Issue 10 | 13 February 2023 

After many years in the planning and a little over two years in construction, our landmark Calvary Kooyong integrated retirement living, health and residential aged care precinct is now a reality. Calvary Bethlehem’s patients and staff have relocated back to the site, and the first of our residents have moved in.

An aerial view of the completed development from Ludbroke Street. Photo courtesy of ICON

Graham finds a place to call home again

Graham Archer personifies the long-held vision of Calvary Kooyong as an integrated precinct that can support and enable residents to live well and help meet their changing health and lifestyle needs.

One of the first to move into the Huntly Suites, Graham was recently diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. He became an inpatient at Calvary Bethlehem, the state-wide specialist provider for Victorians living with progressive neurological conditions, and soon came to realise that continuing to live on his own was not an option. His concerns about where he would live and how he would cope quickly mounted.

But his move with other patients to Calvary Bethlehem’s new sub-acute hospital at the Calvary Kooyong precinct in early January proved a game changer for the former long-time Puffing Billy Railway administrator. It opened up options that Graham had never thought possible – the chance to live in a place he could call home again, and receive the care he needs on the same site.

“It broke me up. I didn’t think there was a chance any of that could happen, and they made it all happen so quickly and so smoothly,” said.

“You just can’t imagine how I feel. I’ve been blown away by the care and people at Bethlehem and here at the new precinct site. Everyone is so focussed on doing the best for me. The whole philosophy is geared towards maximising the care and what independence I can achieve within the limits of my condition.”

There is much that the once keen stamp collector and gardener can no longer do, but he’s not giving up and is instead is taking a positive attitude.

“I struggle with a lot of things – so many simple things that I took for granted all my life. But I’ve received so much benefit from this concept of Calvary’s, and the positive attitude of everyone around me. It rubs off.

“This whole place really is a total package.”

You can read more of Graham’s story on our website  at https://calvary.healthcare/3jXq0Pt

Aged care residents move into Huntly Suites

“Our lifestyle staff really enjoyed meeting our first group of residents and are looking forward to getting to know them and seeking their input into building a lifestyle program that is based around their interests and personal choices,” said Carol.

“From the outset, Calvary Huntly Suites is all about person-centred care, residents’ preferences and needs, and how they choose to live their lives.”

The 83-bed home is built across three levels, each wing named after local suburbs: Brighton, Elsternwick, Caulfield and Gardenvale. Each floor has its own dining rooms and casual shared areas. The home also has a private dining room available to residents and their families and a large activity room for lifestyle and group activities.

To find out more, register your interest or book a tour, call Calvary Assist on 1800 52 72 72. You can also contact Carol directly, either at carol.hamilton@calvarycare.org.au or phone 9834 9000.

New Hyson residents first in line

Pam Morley was the first person to place a deposit and reserve an apartment, and fittingly was the first person to move into the new Hyson Apartments when they opened at the end of January.

She was followed that afternoon by Lyla and Tom Weisler, whose association with the site goes back more than 40 years to when two of their three children were born at the old Calvary Bethlehem hospital (more than 30,000 babies were born by the time the hospital’s maternity ward closed in 1981).

Our first new residents were greeted with a bottle of bubbly to help celebrate the occasion and, in keeping with a Jewish tradition, a gift of bread and salt. In Jewish tradition, the gift represents hospitality: bread, so the home never experience hunger, and salt, so the residents' lives will be full of flavour. 

TOP: Calvary Kooyong Retirement Manager Delia Gawthorpe with the first Hyson Apartments resident to move in, Pam Morley.  ABOVE: Residents Lyla and Tom Weisler are soaking in their views, which take in the city and the bay. BELOW: A customary welcome gift in the Jewish tradition. 

Half of our Hyson Apartments now sold

Half of the retirement living Hyson Apartments have now been sold and residents who have already purchased and will be continuing to move in progressively until mid-February.

Sales manager Christopher Wilson said enquiry remains strong, and many of the buyers and those showing interest are from the local area.

The display suite on Glen Huntly Road has now closed and has been relocated to Calvary Kooyong – along with Christopher.

“We have the whole display apartment onsite that prospective buyers can look at now that construction and fitout of the precinct is completed.

“They can see those fabulous views for themselves, and tour the shared areas such as the cinema, sky terrace, wine library, pool, and business-library lounge. I think it will really help people see what is on offer and get a feel for what their new life could be.

“We don’t have the shopfront display suite and sales office anymore so people should get in touch to book an appointment.”

You can contact Christopher by email at christopher@hysonapartments.com.au or on 0460 320 111 to arrange a private inspection.

Some of the new residents plus and family and friends gathered mid-January for welcome drinks on the Level 7 Sky Terrace to get to know each other, begin building a sense of community, and take another peek at their apartments.

Calvary Bethlehem returns home

Calvary Bethlehem patients and services were the first to occupy the new precinct, safely relocating earlier this month from their temporary facility at Parkdale.

It marked a homecoming for the specialist 32-bed sub-acute hospital and health service and was a milestone moment for the hospital’s General Manager Shannon Thompson and her dedicated team.

“We were very excited to move back home to our original site and into such a wonderful facility that has been designed and built to meet the needs of our patients and their families, and to support our staff to provide high quality, compassionate care,” said Ms Thompson, who is also General Manager of the whole Calvary Kooyong precinct.

“The whole facility is light and airy and offers improved and contemporary amenity for our patients, their families, and for our dedicated staff. The new hospital includes outpatient clinic areas, education and training spaces, patient and family lounge and gardens, a day centre, and a designated area for clinical trials.

Calvary Bethlehem is a leading provider of palliative care services and the statewide provider of specialist care and support for Victorians living with progressive neurological conditions.

Returning Calvary Bethlehem patients transit through the foyer of the new Calvary Kooyong precinct building.

Contacting our Calvary Kooyong precinct