Coming home to Fernhill

Margaret moved into Bolton Clarke’s Fernhill Retirement Village 19 years ago, but the community has been a part of her life since her mother worked in the laundry when she was a child.

“I grew up in Caboolture as a child and back then my Mum worked in the laundry when we went to school, which was just next door,” she says.

“Later I was a domestic cook at what was then called Newman House (now Fernhill), way back when I was 14.

“I had a lot to do with the elderly that lived here from a young age. When I worked in the kitchen, we used to come down every morning and get our vegetables and produce for the next day and prepare them for the residents.”

Margaret has come and gone from Caboolture multiple times during her life, working at Fernhill intermittently over the years. When her husband passed away, she was left with a house on a large block and found it difficult to maintain.

“My sons asked me where I wanted to retire, and there were no other Villages in Caboolture that I was interested in.

“I grew up here, so coming back here to Fernhill was just coming home as far as I was concerned.

“It suits me because it is in a great location. It is close to the bus and railway station, within walking distance to the shops and the hospital is close by, too.”

The best thing about the Village for Margaret is the company.

“All you have to do is go out for a walk around the Village and you’ll find someone to have a talk with.

“You have the security of having somebody around you, the safety of someone being there if something happens.”

On top of that, Margaret is part of an active social committee which puts on morning teas, luncheons, bus trips and happy hours.

“It’s been going almost four years now and it keeps us busy. There’s always something to do at Fernhill!”