Christmas in Retirement Living: celebrating with the best festivities

The Southern Cross Care community celebrates Christmas in a variety of ways, but lunches and dinners in Retirement Living are some of the most festive events.

Here are two stories of our Retirement Living communities hosting well-attended events that were all about coming together and sharing for Christmas.

Glen Woodley Christmas with a cause

Residents of Glen Woodley Estate Retirement Living used a Christmas lunch as a chance to fundraise for a charity and celebrate the spirit of giving.

The lunch was a delicious three course meal prepared by in-house Chef Sam, and 65 residents joined the event.

This year the charity of choice for the fundraiser was the Hutt St Centre, which supports people experiencing homelessness, and CEO Chris Burns joined the lunch to talk about the impact of donations to the cause.

Residents listened attentively as Chris explained how the Hutt St Centre provides food, showers, clean clothes and access to services for some of the most vulnerable people in Adelaide.

Residents hope to raise $2000 for the charity, which would be an increase on the $1500 raised for Foodbank through last year’s Christmas lunch, through an ongoing fundraiser over the month of December.

Christmas in the Mount

The Mount Gambier Retirement Living community held a highly successful party to see in the festive season at the end of November.

The village started getting excited for the event well in advance, due to wonderful Christmas decorations put up by some of the enthusiastic residents.

Although the weather turned the intended street party into a 'carport party', it was still great fun.

During the party residents shared a barbecue, pitching in with salads, sweets and drinks.

A visit from Santa Claus was a highlight, and there were many joyful conversations between neighbours.

Jan Hellyer has lived in the village for four years and said it’s the first on-site Christmas event she has known of.

But Jan believes these events are important, and not just because they’re great fun for residents.

“Most people are here on their own - some have family around but some haven’t - and although we might not talk to each other for months it’s good to know our neighbours are here if we need them,” Jan said.

“Events like this keep the residents here feeling connected and that we’re all here for each other.”

Other events and outings the community enjoys throughout the year include lunches at all sorts of local eateries, breakfasts at the local pub with the best special, and monthly happy hours in the village.