River Glade celebrates 25 years

Stainless steel walkers and blinged-out walking sticks filled the corridors at a cocktail party held at the River Glade Retirement Village last week.

The Parklands-based retirement home marked its 25th anniversary on Friday, August 8, with a celebration as warm as the steaming pot of curry on the buffet table. 

Finger foods, laughter, and a dash of nostalgia filled the air. Braving the winter chill, the seniors stepped out in their Sunday best. 

Some clutched steaming cups of tea, while others opted for a glass of red wine - strictly for “warming purposes,” of course.

One of the event organisers, Gail Oberholzer, addressed the crowd with a heartfelt speech, paying tribute to both the village’s history and its bright future. 

She reminded everyone how lucky they were to be part of such a close-knit, caring community.

In her trip down memory lane, Ms Oberholzer recalled that River Glade was the first retirement village in the area to offer a frail care facility – a feature that gave early residents “extra peace of mind.”

The village’s name was inspired by an actual river that once meandered through the grounds, complete with koi fish. Sadly, it had to be filled in after just three years, she said.

Ms Oberholzer shared a funny story of how a garden gnome, victim of a neighbourly spat, was hurled into the water.

Feeling guilty, the culprits pointed her to the spot the next morning – making her the only person to ever swim in the river, albeit on a rescue mission.

“When the first cottages were completed, there were 25 in total. Today, River Glade boasts 41 apartments, 93 cottages, 16 quads (semi-detached clusters of four), and a 30-room frail care unit. Residents can choose from free-standing cottages, cosy apartments, or quads, and enjoy activities like carpet bowls, line dancing, and crafts,” she said.

The first resident to move in was Nancy Bleeker,  93, who remembers those early days as “nothing short of amazing.” 

With so few people around, “we were like one big happy family,” she said.

Her original plan was to buy a revolver for protection – until enough neighbours arrived to make her feel at ease, she said. Following closely behind was 94-year-old Sheila Jocelyn, whose late husband David became the village’s first chairman. 

“There were only about ten houses when we moved in,” she said.

Together, they started the library, which still thrives today. They also launched fitness and game activities to bring neighbours together, said Ms Jocelyn.

As the anniversary party rolled on, residents nibbled, chatted, and swayed to 70s hits, while a projector splashed nostalgic photos across the wall.