Tongala Memorial Goes Retro for Vintage Car Show 

Our residents at Tongala Memorial recently enjoyed taking a momentary trip back in time – all in celebration of a very special vintage car show, which saw our home welcome two local motoring enthusiast groups from the community. 

A total of nine vintage vehicles visited staff and residents, who relished the opportunity to engage with the ‘vintage’ theme and dressed-up accordingly. Complete with a bit of ‘retro glamour’, residents enjoyed the opportunity to interact with the proud car owners, explore each of the vehicle’s lush interiors, and even stick their head under a bonnet or two for a quick poke around. 

And to top it off, several keen individuals jumped at the chance to go for a memorable spin around the block.

Deb Leed, Woodhaven’s Social Care Coordinator, said the event – which finished with a BBQ lunch for all involved – proved a fantastic occasion to engage residents as well as the local community.

“We had a great response from residents and their feedback was really positive,” Deb says. “Even a couple of our residents who don’t normally engage as much with our activities were keen to get involved, which was wonderful. All the residents loved it! 

“Events like this that engage the community are hugely beneficial, for residents as well as the home. It allows us to be seen in the community, and engage locals to get involved, which is always important considering Tongala Memorial’s recent merger with Respect.

“It’s something we’re doing more and more often… the recent 30th birthday of our Men’s Shed was another good example. We’re continuing to build up our local relationships, whether it’s also connecting with the local RSL or rotary group.” 

At the end of the ‘show and shine’ event, residents were asked to vote for their favourite car, and ultimately chose to crown the classic black Chevrolet as the ‘best car on show for 2023’. 

Across each of Respect’s homes, our social teams curate a wide range of regular events and activities which inspire participation, promote inclusion, and give our residents an opportunity to connect with each other in a fun and positive way. And often these activities and events will involve the community too – like Tongala Memorial’s Vintage Car Show.  

At Respect, we’re also passionate about fostering strong connections – whether amongst residents, our dedicated staff members and volunteers, or the wider community. As a national organisation with a regional focus, we are proud of the positive relationships we have with the local communities in which we operate, and we are committed to ensuring our staff and residents continue to feel connected with the broader community too.