Fun and festivities for Resthaven’s 90th anniversary on the Fleurieu
On Wednesday 9 April, 60 clients of Resthaven Fleurieu Community Services, plus Resthaven staff, boarded the Cockle Train at Goolwa Station to journey to Victor Harbor for a celebratory lunch. The occasion was Resthaven’s 90th anniversary, and the theme for the day was ‘Resthaven-opoly’.
‘The board game Monopoly was created in 1935, the same year that Resthaven opened its doors,’ says Tanya Boakes, Resthaven Fleurieu Community Services Manager.
‘So, we combined the two and encouraged clients to dress up for the occasion, with prizes for the best outfits and our own ‘Community Chest’ and ‘Chance’ cards actioned during the day.’
Resthaven’s Executive Manager Finance and Technology David Norton looked the part (pictured), dressed as Mr Monopoly (because he controls the Resthaven-opoly money!), and other staff members also embraced the theme.
One of the first ‘Community Chest’ cards to be read out was for Fleurieu Community Services Coordinator Michelle Tonkin, who was told to ‘Go to Jail, go directly to Jail’ and was then escorted from the railway station by ‘police officer’ Jemma Kirpensteyn, Program Assistant Team Lead. The pair later reappeared at the Victor Harbor Hotel where lunch was held, Michelle in her stripey prison uniform (pictured).
Resthaven clients enjoyed the Cockle Train ride and were greeted at the Victor Harbor train station by the Victor Harbor City Band.
The band was led by Resthaven Fleurieu Community Services client, Mr Alan Fields, OAM, who was joined, on trumpet, by Fleurieu Community Services Coordinator, Laura McLeod.
At the hotel, guests were impressed by the decorations, with Monopoly-style property squares adorning the walls, but featuring local landmarks and streets. Prizes, boxed in either ‘Green Houses’ or ‘Red Hotels’ were given out to ‘Community Chest’ and ‘Chance’ winners throughout the event.
When it was time to cut the cake, Tanya invited four Resthaven Fleurieu Community Services clients to come to the front – Judith, Marie, Jeff and Fritz – each of whom was also born in 1935. Judith was asked if she would cut the cake. Her 90th birthday was on 9 February 2025, but her celebrations were put on hold after she came down ill with Covid just three days before her big event.
‘It was the first time we had ever caught Covid,’ says Judith, of her and her husband Roelf. ‘Everything had to be changed, and with visitors coming from overseas and interstate, we had a different sort of event where we saw each other through the windows. It was lovely, but it wasn’t the same.’
‘I am so grateful and thankful to have attended the Resthaven event and been invited to cut the cake. It really feels a bit like my own birthday celebration because of it.’
A full list of the 90th anniversary events to be held at Resthaven locations this year is available to view on the Resthaven website.
