IT WAS the late 1970s when a group of Rosewood residents decided the town needed an old age care facility with a difference.

Yes, there were places older folk could move into, but they wanted something better, somewhere more like home … like Rosewood.

Joyce Rieck is a long time Rosewood resident who said she was surprised how few people knew the origins of the residential aged care facility, Cabanda.

Ignorance is not bliss in this case because without volunteer board members, it’s at risk of losing its community owned and operated status.

“I gave a talk at the Rosewood Women’s Group about the establishment of Cabanda Care,” she said.

“It was very well received and many of those present had no idea about its history and how it came to be.

“Before it, any person who needed residential aged care had to leave the community and move to Laidley or Ipswich, but Rosewood in the 1970s was very different to how it is today.”

It was a time, Joyce recalls, when the community was a lot more cohesive, fewer married women needed to work full time outside the home and most children attended the local school.

“Fewer families owned more than one car, there were plenty of shops in John Street and local organisations were well supported,” she said.

“The churches had Sunday schools, there were youth groups, Scouts and Girl Guides flourished as did local sporting teams.

“Rosewood and Walloon Lions Clubs were strong and women’s fellowship groups were well attended.”

Rosewood of the 1970s had a strong local focus and because families were so connected, it was agreed it needed its own aged care facility.

“When I’m talking about Rosewood, I mean the Rosewood district including Grandchester, Marburg, Walloon, Mt Walker and Ebenezer.

“The Chamber of Commerce was also active at that time and in 1978 it called a public meeting to discuss the issue.”

The ‘issue’ was how best to take care of the elderly and infirm, that it mattered as much as it did spoke volumes of the Rosewood character.

“There was an air of excitement as various options were discussed,” she said of that first meeting.

“At the meeting, a steering committee was set up to gather information and report back.

“The steering committee visited other aged care facilities and the Lions Club promised its full support.

“The Commonwealth Department of Health was approached but they said there was already adequate provision in Laidley and Ipswich for Rosewood residents … so that was a dampener.”

The steering committee reported back and the Rosewood Aged Peoples’ Home Committee was established as a trusteeship, and a bank account was opened with a deposit of $18.

Land was bought, a four acre block just south of Johnston Park.

Joyce said the bank refused the committee’s request for a loan to buy the land, but it was able to negotiate with the seller for $21,000 payable over two years.

“The fundraising began, there were doorknocks, raffles, bingo games and some donations came in,” she said.

“A sub-committee was formed to plan and build the hostel, the estimated cost was $250,000.

“Rosewood has always been a working class community, how could it even dream of raising that amount of money.

“But they did, they were that determined to make their vision a reality.”

Help came from every direction and slowly the building took shape.

By September 20, 1987, the first residents moved in and on October 17, it was officially opened.

“Rosewood Aged Peoples Home was changed to Cabanda in May 1990, which means ‘our home’,” she said.

“There is a sombre note to add and that’s Cabanda might not remain community owned and operated.

“The board is struggling to enlist new members, particularly office bearers.

“Community members who have the time and expertise to serve on a voluntary basis are needed.

“I have a favourite saying, ‘those who drink the water should remember those who dug the well’.”

Being part of the committee isn’t a big ask and it’ll keep this hard won Rosewood residential care facility community owned.