Matron Harris and residents, 1973.

Goodwin Homes, 1970s.

Goodwin Homes first residents Tom and Elizabeth O’Neill.

Ainslie resident, 1970s.

Monash residents playing snooker, 1990s.

George Sautelle House official opening, September 6, 1980.

Goodwin Aged Care Services is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, and to celebrate, they’ve written a book.

Titled Celebrating 70 Years of Goodwin, CEO Stephen Holmes says they’ve published a book that celebrates the Goodwin Aged Care Services anniversary and reflects the incredible community effort involved in creating Goodwin and serves as a testament to the Canberra community’s dedication to one another.

Stephen says Goodwin’s foundations have always been deeply rooted in the community, and despite its humble beginnings, it is now one of Australia’s most highly regarded providers of aged-care services.

“We wanted to take a moment to celebrate how the organisation came to exist, and in doing so, say thank you to all of the people and organisations that helped to create these services for the seniors in the ACT region, and more recently in the NSW south coast,” says Stephen.

As outlined in the book, Canberra was a planned city, but it had not been planned for seniors, leaving them feeling lonely, isolated and forgotten.

Homes were allocated by the government, and only to working citizens, leaving retirees unable to acquire a home, forcing them to either rely on family members or move to the outskirts of town.

To address these issues, the Twilight Homes Committee was formed in the mid-1940s.

The committee wrote many letters to the government requesting funds to build housing for seniors, but the campaign was unsuccessful and eventually lost momentum entirely. 

The issue of seniors housing re-emerged in 1951, when community volunteers from the National Council of Women began campaigning for the needs of aged care and accommodation in Canberra to be met, says Stephen. 

This eventually led to the establishment of the Goodwin Centre Development Association, named after Lt-Col. John Thomas Hill Goodwin, a renowned public servant and advocate for the needs of the growing city of Canberra.

“I think it’s inspiring how a handful of people worked so hard, so selflessly, and rallied a community to create something that is still helping people 70 years later,” says Stephen.

“It was really a group effort. The members of the National Council of Women rallied an influential group of business and community leaders and elected the founding editor of the ‘Canberra Times’, Arthur Shakespeare, as president. 

“Together they held all sorts of fundraisers and awareness campaigns which touched upon all areas of the Canberra community, and that’s how Canberra’s first aged-care accommodation came to exist.”

Put simply, Stephen says Goodwin ssupports happy and healthy ageing, not just through care and support services, but by providing spaces where communities can thrive and new friends can be made, and by encouraging active living, which helps people to keep their mobility and independence.

“As we age, certain things become more difficult,” he says. 

“Goodwin helps people with the challenges they face so they can continue to do the things that bring them joy and live the life they choose.”

Goodwin means a lot to the Canberra community, and Stephen says many Canberrans have had family members live in a Goodwin residence or have received Goodwin home care services.

“As CEO, I’m fortunate to hear so many heartfelt stories of people’s experiences with Goodwin,” he says. 

“It can often be an emotional time in people’s lives. In those stories where a loved one has passed, what shines through is a feeling of gratitude. 

“Partly gratitude for Goodwin, but mostly gratitude for the time they got to spend with their family. 

“It’s a special time that we share in people’s lives, and I know that when our staff are out in the community with their uniforms on, they’re met with appreciation.”

Stephen says that Goodwin has always looked to do what is best for residents and clients, and a large part of its reputation of excellence is their innovation.

For example, Goodwin was the first aged-care facility to offer an in-house pharmacist and in-house nurse practitioner. 

“We are always looking closely at the changing needs of seniors in our community, and we look forward to a long future, continuing to provide exceptional support and accommodation that allow people to live their best lives,” says Stephen.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone in the Goodwin community. To the people and organisations that helped found Goodwin 70 years ago, to the families that have put their trust in Goodwin, and to the staff who work hard every day to make sure the seniors in our community receive the support they deserve.”

How did Goodwin Homes get its name?

Lt-Col John Thomas Hill Goodwin’s dedication and passion to the community of early Canberra was preserved in the naming of Canberra’s first aged-care service after him.

Although he died in 1950, just before the establishment of the Goodwin Centre Development Association, he had played a critical role in the development of Canberra, professionally and as a private citizen.

Sometimes known as the “Father of Canberra”, Goodwin was the Commonwealth Surveyor-General from 1915 to 1925, and officer-in-charge of the Federal Capital Territory (1916 to 1924).

Born in Yelta, Victoria, in 1865, Goodwin moved to Canberra as officer-in-charge of the Federal Capital Territory. He was appointed an MBE in 1927.

He enjoyed the city so much he retired here and became deeply involved with the local community, co-founding the Horticultural Society of Canberra in 1929. 

Goodwin also founded and served as acting president of the local division of the Australian Red Cross Society (1938-1939).

He is best known for his role as a founding member of the Canberra Relief Society, which the ACT Heritage Library Manuscript Collections says was formed in March 1930, with the purpose of collecting and distributing funds for those needing assistance during the Great Depression (1929 to the early 1930s). 

The Canberra Relief Society continued to provide a range of welfare services until June 1958, when it was disbanded.

Not one to sit idly by, Goodwin also served on the Canberra Community Hospital Board (1938-48) and the National Capital Planning and Development Committee (1939-41). 

Goodwin is also listed on the Former Magistrates Court Judiciary as having been appointed as a special magistrate for the ACT in November 1930. A role he held until September 1936.

He died in 1950.

Celebrating 70 Years of Goodwin is at goodwin.org.au/history or by visiting one of the Goodwin locations.