In July 1975, a small and determined group of local community members came together with a shared vision: to ensure that older people in the Ballina region could age with dignity, care and connection, close to the community they knew and loved.
They were not a committee of grand institutions or significant wealth. They were two Ministers, a garage proprietor, an undertaker, a solicitor, an office assistant, an accountant, a schoolteacher, an estate agent and a shop assistant — ordinary people, united by commitment and conviction.
Together, Rev Wilbur Doak, Rev Neville Wilce, Arthur Williams, Audrey Dale, Ron Kellner, Ken Hardwicke, Burton Bartlett, Graham Patch, Ross Reid and Helen Wyn formed the founding committee that would ultimately establish St Andrew’s Ballina.
Perseverance Through Challenge
The journey from vision to reality was anything but straightforward.
For several years, the committee faced significant setbacks. There were ongoing concerns around funding, governance complexities, delays in finalising lease arrangements and challenges associated with subsidy arrangements and project tendering. At times, progress was slow and the path forward uncertain.
Yet the committee remained steadfast.
After years of perseverance, construction finally commenced on 17 May 1982, marking a turning point in bringing the original vision to life. Soon after, the organisation appointed its first Director of Nursing, Joan Maylin, laying the foundations for a culture of professional care and compassion that continues to define St Andrew’s today.
The Enduring Power of a Bequest
A key moment in the development of St Andrew’s Ballina was the generosity shown through a bequest from the estate of Jack Stuart Easter. This gift made a profound and tangible difference, contributing in a significant way to the realisation of the project at a time when resources were stretched and confidence had been tested.
It is a powerful reminder that a gift left in a Will is more than a financial contribution — it is a statement of trust, hope and belief in the future. Mr Easter’s bequest helped transform an ambitious community vision into a lasting place of care for generations of older people.
Opening the Doors to the Community
On 4 June 1983, St Andrew’s Ballina officially opened its doors.
More than 400 guests attended the opening — a testament to the deep community support behind the project. In his address, Rev W H Stott acknowledged both the frustration and the achievement of the journey:
“Whilst the process of building the Home was most frustrating for this Committee, with delays to finalising the lease, difficulties with the bequest funds, the withdrawal of the subsidy, the necessity to retender; on completion, at a cost of $1,000,000, the building is one the Board was very proud of.”
Those words continue to resonate today.
A Legacy That Lives On
More than four decades later, St Andrew’s Ballina stands as a living legacy of community spirit, perseverance and generosity. The organisation has grown and evolved, but the values established by its founding committee — care, comfort and community — remain at its heart.
The story of St Andrew’s is a reminder that lasting impact is often created by ordinary people doing extraordinary things together, and by those who choose to leave a legacy that speaks long after their lifetime.
We honour and thank the founding committee, early leaders, staff and supporters whose generosity helped ensure that St Andrew’s Ballina would become, and remain, a place of care and belonging for generations to come.
