The tenth anniversary of Narrabri’s Abbeyfield House was celebrated with an afternoon tea last Tuesday.
Thanks to the efforts of a hard working organising committee, the concept of an independent support home for people with mild disabilities came to fruition all those years ago.
Members of the Pike, Scaysbrook, Octigan, Lennox, Palmer and Shorter families banded together to make the home a reality.
One of the original members of the organising committee, Marion Pike, said they had tried for years to get a group home in Narrabri.
As it wouldn’t get government support, they had to seek a service provider. After learning of not-for-profit community housing provider Abbeyfield, the approach was made for them to assist in the quest for a group home, and the rest as they say is history.
The Narrabri community quickly rallied behind the concept, with support from local organisations and businesses.
Abbeyfield Australia operations manager Nancy Trajcevski praised the work of the initial committee as well as the community in establishing the Narrabri home.
“We wouldn’t have been able to do it without the community’s support,” she said.
“We need the community to keep supporting the Abbeyfield Narrabri House to keep it here.”
Building work started on the home in 2013 and the inaugural seven residents moved in the following year.
“We got such strong community support,” Mrs Pike said.
The original premise of a home which offers independent living in a supportive environment still remains today.
A housekeeper resides in a flat onsite, ensuring residents have support when it is needed.
Mrs Pike was glowing in her praise for Abbeyfield and its work in continuing the home in Narrabri.
“It really is the most wonderful organisation,” Mrs Pike said.
“It’s been an exciting day to be able to reconnect.”
Abbeyfield opened its first home in Australia in Melbourne in the early 1980s.
It now offers its model of assisted housing across communities in the eastern states.
