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Governor General opens Mount Barker facility

Southern Cross Care (SA & NT)’s latest development, Oakfield Lodge in Mount Barker, was officially opened by Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd) this week.

<p>Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove at the oficiall opening of Oakfield Lodge in Mount Barker.</p>

Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove at the oficiall opening of Oakfield Lodge in Mount Barker.

The 80-bed facility eases demand for aged care services in the Adelaide Hills region, including residential accommodation and overnight respite services.

Southern Cross Care chief executive officer, Mr Andrew Larpent OBE, said at the official opening: “Southern Cross Care built this beautiful facility for South Australians and the Mount Barker Community, and we hope it becomes a welcoming centre to this Adelaide Hills community, to keep people connected to the life they love.”

The state-of-the-art facility has been named after the farm the property originally formed part of, and the house names in Oakfield Lodge are named after persons of local and prominent interest.

“Keeping connected to the land and its history was a thought process used throughout each stage of development and construction, even down to the naming of the building as Oakfield,“ Mr Larpent says.

One of the first residents at Oakfield Lodge, Jack Carr, welcomed the guests of the official opening, including local and industry dignitaries, to his new home.

“When I first came in, I was leaving my home of 9 years. It was a big change from where I was living on my own, but with the help of my daughter Sandra, I went from living in a house to living here,” Mr Carr says.

“Now that I’m here, it’s my home and I get on very well with everyone.”

Mr Brendan Bowler AM, Southern Cross Care Chairman, says Oakfield Lodge provides for a range of resident needs, with flexibility enough to allow for future trends in aged care requirements.

“This is the first stage as we hope to expand and provide additional needs for those reaching retirement age as well in the future.”

“The retirement phase will add 180 dwellings across our site with a mixture of 2 to 3 bedroom homes becoming available. We hope to also include a community centre and additional respite service,” Mr Bowler adds.

The 25 million dollar building earned builder Sarah Constructions an award from the Australian Institute of Building for Excellence in Commercial / Industrial Development.

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