St Paul's

I’m a descendant of one of the first Lutheran families in the region. I’ve been a member of the St Paul’s Lutheran Church Caboolture congregation all my life. I’ve been involved with the Church Council and various committees since the mid 1970s. I served as Council Chairman for many years until I retired in 2020.

In the early 1980s, the congregation purchased land on Smiths Road and a new church and a school were built. The growing number of people retiring to the region emphasised the need for an aged care village. A masterplan was drawn up. We needed more land.

A large block at Tomlinson Road came up. The owners sold it to us for a very reasonable price on the provision that it be put towards an aged care home. There was a lot of work securing government grants, engaging architects and builders and so on. The Lutheran Church Queensland District ultimately assumed financial responsibility for the project, but it was the congregation and Steering Committee that got it off the ground and made it happen.

I was involved as Council Chairman in early meetings about the aged care village development, which was driven by the very capable Steering Committee with Pastor Tim Jaensch, Glen and Eunice Hinz, Reg Knopke, Arthur Hall and several others. My main involvement with the aged care village once it was open was as a lay reader. I did that for quite a few years. It was challenging at first but very enjoyable. I remember once reading to five retired Lutheran ministers – no pressure!

I must mention the involvement of Ron Behrens. None of this would have even begun without Ronnie. I knew him from the time I was a child. Like my family, the Behrenses were among the first Lutheran families in Caboolture.

Ronnie had a speech impediment. A lot of people didn’t understand him, but my father and I did. So he always came to us. Dad and Ronnie were very good friends. Despite his difficulties, Ronnie certainly got his point across.

Ronnie’s passion was the aged care village. He was always reminding the council of the importance of the project for the community and eager to learn about our progress.

When I would arrive at church, Ronnie would often be waiting for me. If he was on the porch, leaning on his walking stick, I knew I’d be asked a few questions. If he was in the carpark, waving his stick, I knew I was in for a grilling! One Sunday, he was waiting in the driveway with his stick in the air – I thought about turning around and going home!

Ronnie had a tractor and worked on a number of farms. He always cared for the lawns at the church. After the school was built, he would walk over to see how things were going. He was really popular with the kids – they would crowd around him, talking and laughing. It was great to see. They enjoyed each other’s company.

It was fitting that Ronnie became one of the first residents of the St Paul’s Aged Care Village. Sadly he passed away after six months or so, but it was wonderful that he was able to enjoy the care and support he had worked for so long to create. I’ve always felt sorry Ronnie didn’t have longer, but I’m happy the aged care village was built in time and he made it there.

Ronnie didn’t have children and never married, but he certainly cared for his community and congregation. He was a true Christian. The church was very important to him. He was always talking about the village. He kept us on our toes.

I maintained contact with Ronnie. I was guaranteed to see him every week at church and later at the village. He was a good man. I remember him fondly. St Paul’s Aged Care and Retirement Living today is a wonderful legacy for Ronnie Behrens.

I was on the St Paul’s Aged Care Village Steering, Building and Management Committees.

The project had been driven by the original Steering Committee and the hard work of people such as Pastor Tim Jaensch, Glen and Eunice Hinz, Judy Grimbergen, Arthur Hall, Clara Zimmerman and Ron Behrens. The parish purchased the property on Tomlinson Road. The financial challenges of developing the site and building the village saw the Lutheran Church Queensland District step in to assist and assume financial responsibility.

A Building Committee was established in the early 1990s. Pastor Tim was Chair, Glen the Vice-Chair and Eunice the Secretary. We engaged project managers to oversee the development.

Once St Paul’s Lutheran Aged Care Village was operational, Francis Profke was co-opted from Zion Aged Care in Nundah to manage the service. A Management Committee was established with Glen as Chair. I took over as Chair when Glen retired. Pat Landers took over as the Service Manager in the early 2000s, shortly after the transition to Lutheran Community Care.

Reg and Margaret Knopke established a Welfare Committee to support the aged care village and community. One of their first projects was getting the bus. Francis applied for a grant through the Gambling Community Benefit Fund. The Welfare Committee raised the rest.

Ron Behrens became one of the first residents of the hostel. Clara Zimmerman was one of the first cottage residents. Ronnie did a lot of volunteer work for the church over the years and left a bequest, which built the administration area, guest facilities, kitchen and bathrooms at the church today.

When Lutheran Community Care took over the management and administration of St Paul’s Aged Care, the Management Committee became a Committee of Service. There was a sense of loss, disappointment and confusion among the committee members. Why have they taken this away from us? I thought we were doing good job.

We’ve been part of the St Paul’s Lutheran Church Caboolture congregation since 1990. I served on the Church Council, including 10 years as Chair. Our son went to St Paul’s Primary School from grade one, so I was also on the School Council and Chair for a time.

Church Council Member and Chair
Steering Committee Member
Building Committee Member
Management Committee Member and Chair

My parents Shirley and Fritz Kasper were residents in the retirement village for about 12 years. They knew everyone and became good friends with many. We got to know most of them too. It’s a great community. There’s a real community spirit there.

I took art and craft classes at the retirement village, and we had a tuckshop and coffee shop in the early days of the hostel where I would volunteer.

Mum ended up going into St Paul’s Aged Care, initially the Acacia Lodge then Cassia. The staff bent over backwards for us. They were brilliant and always very accommodating and supportive of Mum. We would often have a picnic with Mum under the shady poinciana trees out the front of reception.

When my parents passed, there were four generations at Dad’s funeral and three generations at Mum’s. Pastor Mike Neldner had baptised the great-grandkids and buried the great-grandparents.

I was involved with the Steering Committee for the development of the St Paul’s aged care village in the mid 1980s. Along with Pastor Tim Jaensch, Reg Knopke, Glen Hinz, Clara Zimmerman and some of the older members of the congregation, I felt there was a great need for another aged care village in the Caboolture area. The community was growing. More people were retiring to the area. My parents were living nearby at Wamuran.

We originally thought we could put six units across the front of the Smiths Road block. At that stage the manse was on King Street. But we realised that six wasn’t going to be enough. So we started looking for land – firstly at the block on the northern side of Smiths Road, but that was too expensive. Then the Tomlinson Road land came up – the owners were sympathetic to the church and an aged care development, so we secured the property for an agreeable rate. There was a lot of sweat and tears – even before the bricks and mortar were eventually put into place. It was an exciting time.

My dear mother, Betty Hall, was one of the first to move into the cottages – number seven – in 1995. She enjoyed her time there very much. There were only about 12 cottages at that stage, but the community was quite active. They all joined in together. They would get kids up from the school and have family days with them. They would go over to the lodges to visit the residents and help with the activities. They went on bus trips. Mum had an art group in Kilcoy. Others in the cottages shared her interests. She was very happy there.

Around 2007, she had a nasty fall and broke her hip and ended up moving into the Grevillea Lodge. We were very appreciative that the extra care and support was there when we needed it. The management and staff were very supportive of Betty. A lot of them had known her for a long time. She was a pretty special lady to all. The staff were great – very caring and supportive.

I was volunteering at the time to take the cottage residents to various hymn fests around the place in the bus. That went well. Then in 2001, my employment fell apart with the demise of Ansett – my work ended and my world was upended. The Lord led me here and the manager Pat Landers gave me a casual position as the bus driver.

We started doing shopping runs a few times a week, mostly with the cottage residents. Then we did social outings with the aged care residents. We started off with morning tea runs, which grew into longer lunch runs. Then we started going to Bribie for a show and lunch at the RSL. We went to Woodford, Kilcoy, Narangba – all over the place. At Christmas, we’d do night tours of the Christmas lights. The cottage residents like Rita and Ron Jahnke joined us. Ron would sit up front and tell me where to go and how to get there!

It grew and grew. We’d encourage folk who weren’t getting out to join us. We’d have a full bus. Everyone had a great time. They loved it. They enjoyed the change of scenery, the social interaction and activities. We had a lot of fun on the bus. We covered a lot of country. I got a ‘Happy Wanderer’ sticker made up and stuck it on the bus.

So my role went from very casual to semi-permanent. By that time I was also driving a school bus. I could finish the school run and come to St Paul’s. Between the bus runs, I could also volunteer. I was working with the diversional therapists, as they were called at the time. We’d do all sorts of things. We started playing bocce, which is still going strong today. I assisted with some chaplaincy duties. I did a weekly bible study. We had a good team of lay readers who would help with the Sunday service. I’d go around and visit the folk and pray with them or just have a chat. I built some great relationships there.

I certainly had a lot of respect for the management and staff – people like Pat Landers, and Angela Snowden who was head of nursing. Sometimes if they were short of staff, I’d go down to a lodge to help out and maybe run the meal trolleys around. It was a great place. Still is of course.

I took my last trip with the residents in 2016 when we sold our property at Wamuran and moved up to the Sunshine Coast. Through my relationships with the staff and the residents of both the aged care lodges and the retirement cottages, the Lord let me have a really great experience here.

I love what I do in my role of Regional Manager, however I loved my time at St Paul’s even more. My time spent at St Paul’s is where I grew both personally and professionally in my role as Service Manager. The experiences I had and the connections I made opened up a world of opportunities – to learn new things and develop new skills.

Being able to look after the St Paul’s village and be part of that community was so important to me. It’s one of the highlights of my career. I’m very grateful for having that opportunity. The hardest part about moving on to my new role has been missing the St Paul’s staff and resident community!

When I go back to St Paul’s today, it feels like home. I’ve always believed that if the staff feel at home, then the residents will feel at home. I always tried to nurture that sense of belonging for our staff who care for our residents – so they feel part of a community and family. Knowing that our staff value their work and that our residents feel at home are paramount for me.

Many St Paul’s staff have been there for a long time – they value the place and their work. St Paul’s is respected by the local community – many local families have a connection with St Paul’s. It enjoys a strong reputation with the health sector and long relationships with health care providers.

The smaller house model that St Paul’s was designed around is central to how we think about building residential aged care today. This is the model that St Paul’s has always had. It’s a big part of what makes the place and community unique. It builds connectedness and a warm welcome for everyone who comes into our space.

St Paul’s Aged Care and Retirement Living has a strong connection with the wider Lutheran community, local congregation and care ethos. There is a richness in that connectedness, our history, congregational origins and long working relationships. We are all one.

We were crop farmers and cattle breeders at several places in the Western Downs and Central Highlands before we retired to Hervey Bay. My husband Ivan had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and I have low vision, so we had many trips to Brisbane to see specialists. We would always visit friends at Caboolture on the way.

We moved to the retirement village at St Paul’s in 2009. Our home here was the last one built. It’s simple, but I just think it’s marvellous. I’m very happy here.

Ivan had a fall in 2013. He spent a few days in hospital but then needed ongoing attention. Fortunately the manager at St Paul’s Aged Care had a room available. She apologised because it was still being refurbished, but we were thankful to have it.

Part of the reason we moved to St Paul’s was to have access to support and care. That was always our idea. We would never go somewhere where we couldn’t move to the next stage as our needs changed.

I was able to walk over and visit Ivan and have lunch with him. I did that every day for five years, so I got to know the aged care part of St Paul’s pretty well too. I still go up to the hall for lunch some days. I remember the hall being built – I used to walk past it every day visiting Ivan.

One of the highlights of the community are our monthly bus trips. We go to different places. Ivan and I went until he had to go into care, and I still go today. We also have a weekly shopping trip, and that’s just a blessing for those of us who can’t drive. They are lovely outings because, when you don’t drive, you don’t get out and about. It’s just good to have a trip and be in the countryside and get to know your neighbours better.

Worship has always been a focal part of my life. Ivan and I were originally members of a Lutheran youth group and the congregation at Dalby – we were married in that church. We relocated to different areas to farm and were members of at least five church congregations before we came to Caboolture and our unit at St Paul’s.

I’m happy to continue living here. I’m thankful for the community. I know we’re all in God’s care. I know lots of the residents. They’re a lovely group of people.

We moved to Wamuran around 2003, after Peter retired as a Lutheran Pastor, and we joined the St Paul’s Caboolture Lutheran Church congregation. It’s been a very happy association with the congregation and also with St Paul’s generally.

Through the church, we met a lot of residents from the retirement village at St Paul’s. Many are part of the congregation. There’s a service held onsite at St Paul’s that Peter would occasionally take too, along with some hospital and home chaplaincy when the minister was away. So, we got to know people from across the service.

We moved into the St Paul’s retirement village in 2021. We love the village and the cottage we live in. We enjoy the community. Mavis and a few of the other ladies put on a luncheon in the hall every month for the whole village. The people are very caring and it’s very welcoming. We just feel as though it’s part and parcel of the place.

We never really looked at any other retirement villages. St Paul’s was the only place we were interested in. It’s so spacious here. We’re not on top of each other. Both of us are country-born and grew up in the rural areas. We’ve lived in the city too, but we’ve always enjoyed going out into the country. We enjoy the open spaces here and the nice country feel. It’s well laid out and easy to get around.

From the beginning, we felt right at home. We already knew people who lived here thanks to our association with the congregation. So, we felt as though we were coming to a familiar community. It felt like the right move for us.

We know a few people who are now in St Paul’s Aged Care. We got to know them when we moved into the village, before they moved into the nursing home. One lady was in our congregation at Everton Hills, where we lived previously. So, we’ve had a long association with many of the people here.

It’s a good community and a lovely place.

I was among the first staff at St Paul’s when it opened in January 1994. I was there from the day dot until I retired in 2014! There was a steady flow of residents coming in from the time we opened, and we were full mid-year.

As I recall, Ronnie Behrens was the first resident. I remember he was in room four in Banksia. Then we had Dennis, Bill and Dorothy – a lovely lady and the mother of the architect who designed the village.

I remember many residents over the years. Robert the school teacher – a beautiful man. Marion who would leave a bit of food on her plate for her kitten! She was a most friendly little lady. She visited all the residents and encouraged them to get knitting!

We learnt a lot from these lovely people. We learnt to be patient and show you care. Some of the residents were alone when they were dying. If I was there, I would quietly go in and be with them. I would hold their hand and tell them how special they were to all of us. It was very difficult but very rewarding. I felt I was there for them. All the carers had their own special way of farewelling the residents. One of our beautiful carers who worked nightshift would place a flower on the resident’s chest when she farewelled them.

We had a lovely bunch of people. We worked hard. It was challenging at times, but we enjoyed it. I loved working in Cassia, the dementia lodge. You had to be careful with certain people. What I found particularly difficult was caring for someone who was my age. I used to get very emotional.

I valued helping vulnerable people. The residents are completely dependent on others. They depend on our care. I loved being part of their world. The more you got to know them, the better you became.

I remember one day a colleague and I were having a laugh while helping a resident who was non-verbal. All of a sudden, she spoke and said, “Stop laughing you silly ladies!” That gave us a huge shock and an even bigger laugh! Maybe for a moment there was a connection. You always try to build that connection.

Things were very different in the beginning. You were allocated to a lodge when you arrived for your shift. Only one carer worked the night shift, checking on 60 residents. We had a much smaller team back then. And the carers didn’t just care for the residents – we also did the cleaning and laundry. There was a little laundry in each lodge where we did the personal washing. The linen was sent to Holy Cross Laundry.

We also assisted doctors with visits to residents and did the medications and wound care. Residents had lunch in the dining room, which is now the activity room, and breakfast and dinner were served in the lodges – delivered on a very noisy aluminium trolley! In the late 1990s, we had to formalise our training and complete the Certificate III in Aged Care.

A Diversional Therapist organised activities and trips. Cassia residents were assisted by the DT and carers to go for a morning walk. We’d go down Tomlinson Road – it could be very difficult trying to keep everyone on track! There have always been regular visits by ministers from various local churches. That was special for residents as they looked forward to seeing familiar people from their parish.

I’ve been a local resident for many years. I know many local families. I’ll be out shopping and someone will tap me on the shoulder and say, “Hello, I remember you – you cared for my dad!” So then we’ll talk about their dad or mum or whoever it may be. It’s lovely to reconnect like that.

I always wanted to be a nurse but I didn’t have the opportunity. When our children started school, I started working as a carer at a hostel in Kallangur. Then I heard about St Paul’s opening, so I got in touch with Francis the manager, and that’s how I started my journey as a carer at St Paul’s.

Francis was the first Manager, then Pat and Rory. Maureen was our first Director of Nursing, then Jan, Jill, Joan, Anne, Elaine, Angela, Maggie – a little Irish lady who would always call out “thank you” when we were leaving – and Jean, who was there when I left.

We had amazing kitchen staff – Merle, Val and Sondra – who worked very hard to meet the residents’ needs. Sondra was very festive, donning fairy lights and flashing earrings during the Christmas season, which was a highlight for our residents who would keep an eye out for her arrival each day to see what she was wearing. Our first gardener was Eric, then Brian – his wife Ann was a carer – and then Chris, who was there for 25 years.

Many St Paul’s staff have been there for a long time. That says a lot. We all got on well and worked well together. I’m still in touch with many, which is lovely. We meet up regularly. We still talk about our days at St Paul’s! I loved the place and the people – both the residents and staff.

I remember my years at St Paul’s fondly. The residents taught me a lot about life. I am a more empathetic, grateful and patient person because of the many years I spent caring for them.

My first day at St Paul’s was in February 2000. It’s gone so quickly! I started as a personal carer here after working at a nursing home in Sandgate. I’ve now worked in this field for going on 40 years.

I obviously made the right choice coming to work at St Paul’s. People speak very highly of the place. It has a good reputation and strong ties with the local community. Many local people have a connection with St Paul’s. I care for a gentleman today whose parents I cared for about 20 years ago. That’s quite humbling.

I have a passion for dementia care and memory support. I’ve worked in the area for more than 10 years. It can be very sad and challenging at times, but also very rewarding. If you can just bring a little laugh or smile, you’ve done something positive.

I’ve learned so much from the residents. I value the relationships we build. When you care for someone in such a personal way, it’s hard not to get close to them and their families. I often think of people I’ve met here. They really touch our hearts. I’ve cared for people who have been professionals, farmers, servicemen and servicewomen. I listen to their stories and I think, wow, their lives have been so full. I was brought up by my grandparents, so maybe that’s why I feel such a strong connection with my elders.

These beautiful people have truly left so much behind by the time they come into our care. We are privileged to be here at such an important stage of their life. To treat our residents with compassion and kindness is perhaps the simplest and most valuable thing we do. This is their home and they’ve earned the right to feel comfortable and well cared for.

My colleagues are amazing. My peers are my friends. They are just beautiful people. They’re compassionate, caring, supportive and innovative. We all learn from each other, all the time. I think we all bring something to the table and it’s nice that we’re all different. Almost everyone I work with has been here for more than 10 years. It’s testament to St Paul’s that we’ve got so many long-term staff.

I really enjoy the work, the place and the people. It’s so rewarding. I’ve learnt so much. I’ve learnt to be humble and appreciate my loved ones more deeply – especially now that I too am getting older. St Paul’s has been a huge part of my life – and hopefully it will continue to be for a few more years yet! It’s like my second home. It’s more like a family than a workplace.

I started at St Paul’s in 2000. My very first shift was a night shift. I worked with an RN (registered nurse) and we worked across all of the lodges. I remember I was very confused by morning because I was new and I was getting to know all the residents in all the different lodges – and it was night-time! That’s changed now – staff work in specific areas. I’ve worked in all the lodges over the years. I spent nearly 10 years working in the dementia lodge. In recent years, I’ve been working in high care, though I’ve reduced my hours.

It can be quite challenging work at times, but very rewarding. You have to work in with the residents – with their needs, likes and dislikes. Every day is different. It all pans out at the end of the day. The residents are lovely.

I’ve seen a lot of change in my time. The residential aged care is still based around the same five lodges, though how they’re used has evolved. The dementia lodge has 13 rooms for residents now. Originally there were only 12 rooms plus one for the night nurse. The retirement village has expanded with new villas and a new hall. Another change is that most lodges were originally low care. So, when residents deteriorated or needed a higher level of care, they were transferred to another lodge. All lodges are basically high care now.

​​​During the floods in 2011 we had to prepare to evacuate all the residents to higher ground – wherever that was! We readied emergency evacuation kits, blankets and warm clothing. Fortunately we didn’t have to go through with the evacuation in the end, but it was a big thing at the time!

I’ve always been happy at St Paul’s. The staff are lovely. There’s a strong sense of belonging. Several of us have been here for a long time – like Dee who is an RN. We started about the same time. When we have the same roster, we’ll often have a chat about the old days and what it was like. We both talk with the residents too about the old times and how things have changed. It’s nice to share that history and connection. We have a good rapport.

I think there’s a nice community connection at St Paul’s. I’m a local, and I have that connection with families through my work. I enjoy the place and the people. I always have. That’s what’s kept me here for so long.

My mother, Helen Williams, was the first (non-volunteer) chaplain at St Paul’s Aged Care. This was her last job in a long career as a teacher, lecturer at QUT, and hospital chaplain. She was also a trainer of hospital chaplains at the Multi-faith Academy for Chaplaincy and Community Ministries, where she was academic dean. Mum worked until she died. She was really missed by staff and residents, and they talked about her long afterwards.

I was employed as a chaplain at St Paul’s Aged Care for seven years until I was diagnosed with cancer and retired in 2023. I was a volunteer for several years prior to that and I’m still connected to the place today and go as frequently as I can on Sundays.

I started conducting bible study classes, alternating with Arthur Hall, who I knew from the St Paul’s congregation and introduced me to the aged care community. I introduced hymn singing sessions – the residents loved singing. I also led the Sunday worship services. Of course, I got to know many residents through these activities and just being there.

I started when Mum was still chaplain. We worked together: offering the option of male or female chaplain to the residents. Mum would often call in and participate in activities I was running.

Chaplaincy is a distinguishing feature of Lutheran Services Aged Care and places like St Paul’s. I was trained as a hospital chaplain. Aged care is very different. I loved it. Older people have a wonderful sense of calm and such wisdom. The residents really value our presence – the continuity of care and companionship.

One of our retired Lutheran pastors, Rev Colin Sheer, summed it up when he said, “David, you know me better than I know myself!” Which is testament to the aged care chaplain and what I treasure about the role. They’re not limited in the time they offer. You work through your break; you stay back.

Colin’s wife Ruth came to St Paul’s Aged Care when she was failing and Colin moved in to one of the independent living cottages. When Ruth died, Col was a lost man. We reached back into his early memories – growing up on a wheat farm, his years in college, his early travels with young mates on camel or horseback to the MacDonnell Ranges where Albert Namatjira would paint. Col lived to 100. What a life. It was a privilege to get to know him so well.

As a chaplain, you meet a remarkable mix of people with such extraordinary lives and so many fascinating stories to share. Pioneering families, war veterans, retired farmers, nurses, people from different places and cultures. They may be hard of hearing. They may not have much English. But you connect. You have wonderful conversations. Doorways open. We also perform memorial services so residents and staff can come together to reflect, share memories and say goodbye.

​​​There’s a lot of cooperation in the St Paul’s Lutheran community in Caboolture. All Caboolture Lutheran branches come together regularly – schools, youth services, aged care and church – to share what’s happening and explore opportunities for collaboration.

The level of care at St Paul’s Aged Care really shows. We hear that over and over again. There are now quite a few other facilities in the area. Families will visit all of them, and when they get to St Paul’s they’ll say, “This is the place – it feels like home.” The carers and staff know the residents and their families well. Nothing is too much trouble. They’re great people.

I used to work in nursing in northern New South Wales. I moved to Burpengary in 2006 after I retired. Once I was settled in, I started volunteering at St Paul’s Aged Care. One of the staff suggested I visit people who didn’t get visitors. So I did and met some wonderful people. In 2007, my toddler granddaughter, Fiona, started coming with me. I got permission to bring her along and they made her a little volunteer badge with her name on it!

Fiona would come with me to visit the residents every Friday. One of them was a lady called Dorothy. She was one of the first residents. She was in her mid-90s when I was visiting her. Dorothy and Fiona hit it off right from the beginning. Fiona would come in and do a little dance for her and sit on her knee. Another resident, Bev, would lock herself in her room. But the minute she heard Fiona’s voice, she would open the door and welcome us in! She related really well to Fiona.

Sometimes the residents would sit in a circle for their exercises or activities. So Fiona would get into the centre of the group and play her Wiggles guitar! She would have everyone stomping their feet and clapping their hands. Then, before we left, she’d go around and shake hands with everyone. They just delighted in her. Later, her younger sister, Jenny, started coming with us too, as soon as she was able.

At Easter, we would visit and give everyone an Easter egg. One year a fellow put his egg in his mouth tinfoil and all. Fiona was worried he would choke! After that she would tell everyone to take the paper off first! At Christmas, the girls would go from room to room singing carols and giving out little chocolates.

The residents really loved my company, but the girls were an even bigger hit! Unfortunately, our visits came to an end. We were all very sad!

I moved in to the St Paul’s retirement community early in 2024. A friend lived there and was very happy. She was work always telling me how wonderful it was – and best of all how you didn’t need to do any yard!

I already had a strong connection to St Paul’s, and I knew a lot of other residents through the women’s fellowship and from church. I’ve probably had more social activity since I moved in here than in the 18 years I was at Burpengary!

In the 1990s and early 2000s, my wife Linda and I delivered medications and Webster packs to aged care and retirement villages for a local pharmacy. We would also visit doctors’ surgeries collecting prescriptions to take back to the pharmacy. Each week we could travel from Caboolture down to Redcliffe and up to Kilcoy. We started delivering to the St Paul’s Aged Care Village as well.

We did these deliveries for about 14 years. We got to know a lot of aged care services in that time. St Paul’s is one of the most well recognised. It’s well respected within the region and community – by families, doctors and the health profession.

We’ve been in the St Paul’s Lutheran Church Caboolture congregation since the late 1990s. I wrote the 80th anniversary history booklet in 2006 and I’m now working on the centenary publication.

The St Paul’s Aged Care Village was built by the St Paul’s Caboolture congregation. Several members of the congregation formed a Steering Committee. They found the land, planned the village and made it happen.

So the congregation played a vital role in building St Paul’s Aged Care in the 1990s, and St Paul’s Aged Care plays a vital role for the local region and community today.

David Goldhardt is the author of “Celebrating God’s blessing in Caboolture since 1873: On the occasion of the 80th Anniversary of St Paul’s Lutheran Church Caboolture 1926–2006”. David is currently updating and expanding this publication for the church’s centenary in 2026.

David’s parents were Lutheran missionaries in Papua New Guinea, where David and his siblings were born. All eventually relocated to Australia to live and work. His parents soon followed, serving in Lutheran parishes in Queensland and South Australia. They retired to the Redlands region – and eventually Trinder Park Aged Care in Woodridge. We look forward to talking with David more when we get to the Trinder Park Origin Story!

I wasn’t aware of the St Paul’s Lutheran Aged Care Village when I arrived from Adelaide to start the 1995 school year as Principal at St Paul’s Lutheran Primary School. My wife Liz worked as the Teacher Librarian. We retired from St Paul’s Primary in 2004 and continue to live locally.

One of our year three teachers arranged for some of the St Paul’s Aged Care residents to visit her class. They arrived at the school amid an air of excitement. So began my experiences over the following 10 years drawing together the youngest and oldest members of our community – one group with all the questions; the other with the rich experiences gathered over the decades.

The children would excitedly show their work, ask questions, draw pictures and share reading. The encouragement they received from their new-found friends was invaluable. They sang songs for each other and finished with a morning tea.

Then it was our turn to visit these “grandparents” at their place. Other classes joined in. As we developed instrumental lessons, we took our newly acquired musical skills with us to share. This gave us performance skills and confidence. I would sometimes walk with the class to be part of this wonderful time of sharing. We would wait as residents arrived from their rooms, and so the interchange began.

Many of the children did not have a grandparent or one near enough to visit. They loved these times where they could sit with a resident and share a talk time. The relationships flowed freely. There was often a little hug and an encouraging word that made the walk so worthwhile. After a biscuit and a drink, we were all ready to return to school routine.

I did my personal carer’s course at TAFE with another woman who is also part of the St Paul’s lifestyle team today. She had done her TAFE placement at St Paul’s and loved it. She applied for a job here straight away, so I did too. I started as a personal carer in 2012. I loved the job, but after 10 years I was keen to try something different, so I joined the lifestyle team in 2023.

I was initially attracted to working in aged care for the stability. But now, it’s much more than just a job. You know the residents and staff. They value what you do. It’s like a big family. The residents have lifetimes of knowledge and experience to share. I’ve currently got two students who are studying to be counsellors. They’ve enjoyed their time here so much, they’re now interested in working in aged care. To me, that says a lot about the work. It’s such a good industry.

St Paul’s feels more like a home than a clinical workplace. It’s very cosy here. Families have told me that St Paul’s has been recommended by other people in the community. We’ve had residents relocate here from other facilities.

There’s always something different going on at St Paul’s. We appreciate that someone living in aged care has moved their entire life into one room. We work hard to brighten their days. Great food and engaging activities help make people happy. At our resident meetings, the main things they want to know are what’s coming up on the menu and what activities are we doing! We try to mix it up and get the residents doing some pretty cool stuff that they may not otherwise do. They enjoy it. There’s something for everyone.

St Paul’s is a great community and a great place to work.