An afternoon tea to celebrate the 40th will be held on Friday, September 26 from 1pm at the home at 189 Old Southern Road, South Nowra.

The afternoon will include light entertainment, story sharing and a chance to catch up with old friends.

Staff are particularly encouraging anyone with a connection to the facility – staff, relatives and friends – to join them in marking the milestone.

There is no cost to attend.

For any further details phone Chesalon on 4421 3744.

In 1963 there were no nursing homes on the South Coast between Wollongong and the Victorian border.

It was the Anglican church who saw the need and had the vision.

However the decision to build and finance a nursing home was a community project.

In April 1963, a meeting was held and the following members were elected: president Reverend Bryce Wilson, vice presidents Reverend Norman Simes (Presbyterian) and Reverend Slater (Berry), secretary John Christmas and treasurer Les Miller.

One of these members, Mr Miller, continued to be involved with Chesalon up until his death.

In July 1963, the first of several auxiliaries were formed. Nowra was first, closely followed by Berry, Bomaderry, Huskisson and Kiama.

In December 1963, a district nurse was appointed.

Her name was Marjorie Gilbert and she soon had an assistant deputy by the name of Joy Webster and several other nurses.

It was up to the community to prove the need for a nursing home, hence the start of district nursing.

This service was continued until the opening of the home in 1974.

When Joy Webster’s district nursing services were suspended she became the first DDON (deputy director of nursing).

The land for the nursing home was donated by the council.

The foundation stone was laid in December 1972, building started in February 1973 and the home first opened in September 1974 by Archdeacon Delbridge.

Margaret Dean was the first Matron.

Before the home was started, money was raised by the community in various ways.

Many efforts were widely publicised in the local newspapers and the committee had tremendous community support.

One function in which the whole town took part was a swimming carnival.

Other money raising efforts were by coffee mornings at people’s homes, various stalls, tatting of crosses, camellia shows, etc.

The service clubs were involved in supporting the fund-raising.

The Lyons Club built the building on railway land for running an opportunity shop, which is still raising money for Chesalon today.

People who played high profile roles in the early days were Les Miller, Pearlie Hyam (who later spent her last seven years in Chesalon) and Daisy Kennedy.

Mr Watt raised over $10,000 by making cutting boards and selling them at functions organised to raise money for the home.

Mrs Watt sold crocheted handkerchiefs until her death and made $23,000 for the home.

The Rotary club bought the residents Christmas gifts for many years.

They also donated the flag pole.

Frank Moorehouse won the NSW Senior Citizen’s prize in 1986 and nominated Chesalon Nowra to be the recipient of a $1000 donation.

Mr Mytton was chosen as the local Senior Citizen for his work for Chesalon.

He has raised many thousands of dollars, mainly by making jam.

Significant residents have included an ex-mayor.

Percy West was admitted in the first intake of residents and died in October 1982.

Pearlie Hyam was Nowra auxiliary’s foundation president, Iris Rankin tatted and sold over $1000 worth of crosses to raise money.

In the mid-1980s the government changed funding to nursing homes.

This meant only people in need of heavy nursing care would qualify for admission.

This increased the number of staff hours.

However in the late 1990s things changed again.

The government brought in a new Aged Care Act, which changed past inspection procedures and the design of the building.

It led to the necessity to build a new nursing home at Old Southern Road and the move to this new home took place on November 12, 2002.