TORBAY BOOKS

TORBAY has wealth of talent amongst its nearly 400 residents. They come from all walks of life and have experienced so much. The fact that they are prepared to share their skills and knowledge makes TORBAY such a wonderful place to work and live.

Two residents, Neville Searle and Betty Patterson, have written and published books on TORBAY and we are extremely grateful for their efforts to record and tell the story of the dream that is TORBAY.

• The Neville Searle Story of Torbay Retirement Village 1974 to 1992 by Neville Searle
• Retirement “An Important Part Of Life” Celebrating Torbay’s 30 Years by Betty Patterson

The Neville Searle Story of Torbay Retirement Village 1974 to 1992 by Neville Searle

Neville Searle, a retired school teacher moved into the Aged Care Facility with his wife Vera in 1990. Neville penned the following conclusion to his book.
“At last, after many months I am able to write finished to this self imposed task of compiling my story of the Torbay Retirement Village.

‘The work has been arduous but rewarding. It has meant endless research, and interviews innumerable. The rewards have been many.

Once more, I would like to acknowledge the help I have received and the facts I have been able to gain from Mr. Don McBain, especially for saving and dating the paper cuttings from the local papers over this period. Without them the story could not be have been compiled by me.

Vera and I have lived at Torbay for only twenty months while the story covers 18 years 1974 – 1992. We were present on sixth August 1977, when the village was opened and when resident George Beaumont entertained us and the general public on his electric organ. Little did we know then, that we ourselves would become residents in 1990.
There are many “Thank You’s” now to be expressed, the first to my wife for enduring my many “work periods” with tolerance and understanding.

I would like also to thank all those who supplied me with information, by phone, writing or print, and who supplied me with photographs to add interest to my Story – there have been too many to acknowledge in detail or to use totally.

Some names which I should mention are Mrs. Ruby Jensen, Mrs. Shana Brierley, Mrs. Trevor Baldwin, Mrs. Austrelie Moore, Mrs. Trudy McIver and Mr. Keith Miles

I have gone to much trouble to isolate and use the items which I have considered appropriate but, no doubt, there will be many who will question my judgement in these matters.

I ask for understanding, and trust they may see the worth of the record as a whole.

I extend my thanks to the management, Mr. Phil Parry, Sister Marion Brenia, the office girls, and to the activity team.

I offer a special word of appreciation to Mr. Don McBain, Mr. Reg Shaw and other members of the Board of Directors without whom my story would not have appeared as a book.

My “thanks” go also to Members of Parliament, Mr. Clarrie Millar and Mr. Brendan Hansen, for the support and service they have rendered to “Torbay” over the eighteen years by making the necessary subsidies secure. Without their co-operation there would have been much slower progress.

I now add a special “thank you” to Mrs. Betty Shaw who “typed up” my effort, this Story. She has now completed this task. Thank you Betty. “Thank you again,” to Mr. Reg Shaw who has supplied “facts” to complete any of the missing gaps in this story.

History is not a “dry” subject, but it is of little use if it remains hidden in the past. So, I commend the book to you, in the hope that it will benefit, and inspire further, continued support for the Torbay Retirement Village.
Neville Searle

POSTSCRIPT
Neville Searle never lived to see his Story told. He passed away peacefully in his unit at Torbay on 15th March 1992 aged 86 years and 8 months only days after he completed his Story.

Neville was an inspiration to all who knew him. We are indebted to him for his work in recording this Story of Torbay much of which would have been lost forever, but is now safely recorded in the pages of his book.
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The book is currently out of print but copies can be found in the Torbay Libraries.

Retirement “An Important Part Of life” Celebrating Torbay’s 30 Years by Betty Patterson

Betty Patterson moved into a villa at Torbay in 1983 and is still in the same villa today. Betty has been an active member of the Torbay community for all the years she has lived here. She was President of the Torbay Recreation and Social Committee for twenty-two years until she stood down in 2006. In addition she organised relaxed Torbay Adventure Tours suitable for seniors and their friends. Not one to be idle, Betty has now been elected to the Villa Residents’ Committee.

The book was dedicated to all Board members, residents, staff and volunteers who have given their time over the years to make Torbay ‘the home away from home’.  It records the development of activities over the years that are still relevant today.

It highlights the employment of five Diversional Therapists who organised varied activities and hobbies for men and women in all areas of care and provides free shopping and sight-seeing bus tours weekly.

The book concludes that the most important requirement in retirement is ongoing care and the love and care provided by staff.

Copies of the book are being made available to new residents and can be found in the Torbay library.

 A Time to Remember by Betty Patterson

This book records the recollections of Betty Patterson about her time as Recreation Advisor with the Queensland National Fitness Council for Sports and Physical Recreation and the Maryborough Community Recreation Association.

This book covers the history of the National Fitness Council and the emphasis of participation in sport and recreation within the limitations of youth, age, gender and health.

This included training leaders and organising activities with the then three only aged care facilities in Maryborough and Hervey Bay as well as country areas.

Betty’s association with Torbay has covered thirty-three years.

The book is currently out of print but copies can be found at the Maryborough and country Historical Societies or Torbay Libraries.