Sixty-year connection: Kay Peterson and Geoff Colman (front) flank their 94-year-old father (and Warramunda Village resident) George “Basil’’ Colman at the 60th birthday celebrations for the aged care facility. Also pictured is (back from left) Kay’s husband Bob, granddaughter Tennille, son Wayne and his wife Kim, along with Geoff’s wife Barbara.
When a committee of forward-thinking Kyabram citizens was formed to establish what is now Warramunda Village, George “Basil’’ Coleman was in his 30s and was about as far removed from the community-minded activity of his mother-in-law as you could imagine.
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The mother of his bride was Grace Beach (born Grace Pierre-Humbers), who had a place on the first Warramunda committee and later became a resident of the village.
Her daughter and Basil’s wife, Betty, was also a resident until she passed away in 2019. She and her husband lived for 12 years in a unit at the expansive central Kyabram facility before she died at 91.
Fast forward 60 years from the formation of the original Warramunda committee and a 94-year-old Basil was one of the residents toasted at Warramunda Village’s 60th birthday celebrations.
Planning for the future: Chief executive John Clark’s arrival at Warramunda Village almost two years ago ushered in a new era for the 60-year-old facility, and there are plans for a return to the pre-COVID interaction between the residents and the wider Kyabram community. Among those initiatives, thanks to a generous donation from a Kyabram family, is an outside café facility that will enhance opportunities for interaction between residents and visitors to the village.
Basil hosted his daughter Kay and her husband Bob Peterson from Melbourne, son Geoff and his wife Barbara, who live in Hervey Bay, and two further generations — grandson Wayne Peterson and his wife, Kim, along with great-grandaughter Tennille Peterson — at the barbecue.
“We try and get up monthly,” Kay said.
“Our grandmother was a big part of the first committee.”
Both the Coleman children were born in Kyabram, Geoff proudly explaining how driving past the modern-day Kyabram Club (site of the former Kyabram Hospital) reminded him of his origins.
The 60th birthday was the first time all four generations had been together for some time.
Kids and cake: Brought in as special guests for the cake cutting at Warramunda on Friday evening were River Davy, Anika Radcliffe and Lucas and Evelyn Davidson — children of staff who play such a vital role in the lives of Kyabram’s most senior citizens at the aged care facility.
