The community-based Not For Profit Echuca Community for the Aged (ECA) is celebrating 20 years of its retirement village, Cunningham Downs, in the town on the banks of the Murray River and Campaspe River in Victoria.
Bernice and her husband moved to Cunningham Downs in 2008, two years after it officially opened. Today, it has 99 independent living units.
“When I lived in the independent living units it was just like living at home, you could come and go as you pleased,” Bernice said.
“There was always someone around and I always had something to do … I was always busy attending the different activities that they provide for you, it really is a lovely place to live.”
During her decade at Cunningham Downs, she would be taking part in different activities or catching up with fellow residents she had made friends with over the years and in her early years, she even volunteered at the ECA nursing home.
She said that as she faced the challenges of ageing, she was well supported while living in the village.
“The staff are great, there is always someone around when you need it,” she said.
“[I enjoyed] having things done for me that started to become a bit difficult at home.
“It was also very handy to have the town bus service available. It’s helpful when you stop driving, you can still get into town as needed.”
After a decade at Cunningham Downs, Bernice and her husband have now settled into the ECA nursing home in 2019.