OUR STORY
Twilight Aged Care is over 100 years old with a unique and fascinating history embedded in North Sydney history and early Australian feminist movements.
It was originally established to protect vulnerable women in the early 1910s. Older women who fell ill, whose husbands had passed on, or those who had never married, found themselves financially vulnerable in this period of history.
Therefore, Sydney’s influential women, led by Lady Mayoress Miss Florence Clarke, banded together and held a town meeting to discuss the opening of a home for these women. They proposed the idea of a home to care for educated, refined women in their later years in need of housing and food. It would provide accommodation for the ‘elderly gentlewoman’, such as teachers, musicians, and artists between 65 and 75 years of age.
This home, later named Twilight House, in homage to the Twilight League that formed it, officially opened on the 27th May 1915 with Twilight House at Mosman.
The opening of the home was not only an achievement for the Twilight League but also for the people of Sydney, since the whole endeavour had been funded by local groups and key figures donating and volunteering their time, holding several fundraisers and a ball to raise the money needed.
This spirit of community involvement still continues today, in Twilight’s not-for-profit structure and the local support it receives from groups and sponsors.
Today, Twilight Aged Care provides high-quality residential aged care for more than 200 men and women in our five homes across northern Sydney communities, employing over 300 dedicated members of staff. As a not-for-profit organisation, we are driven by our mission to provide the highest quality person-centered care and accommodation to those in our communities.
Staying true to the philosophy of the pioneering women that established us, Twilight Aged Care has maintained a smaller, boutique model that supports a home-style environment and more personal care.
For any additional enquiries please contact Twilight Aged Care –
T: 02 9414 4400
E: info@twilight.org.au
‘AN AUSTRALIAN STORY: A HISTORY OF TWILIGHT AGED CARE 1915-2015’ BY RON RINGER
With Twilight being one of the many organisations established in the early twentieth century, ‘An Australian Story: A History of Twilight Aged Care 1915-2015’ occupies a small space in telling the broader story of aged care in Australia.
Over the years, Twilight Aged Care has played an integral role in the lives of many thousands of people. This book draws on the available archives to explore some of their inspiring stories, and the stories of the inspiring individuals who played a fundamental role in its development.
Discover the history of Twilight Aged Care and purchase a copy of our book, ‘An Australian Story: A History of Twilight Aged Care 1915-2015’ by Ron Ringer at the price of $50.00
Call 02 94144400 or email info@twilight.org.au to purchase a book.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ron Ringer is a consulting historian and the published author of numerous institutional histories, educational texts and architecture-related books. His company, Syntax Writing, also consults to academic clients and financial service and government organisations on a range of writing and communications projects. Ron can be contacted at www.syntaxwriting.com.au
REVIEWS
We are honoured to have received some very positive reviews of our book from esteemed commentators within the Australian aged care and healthcare sectors.
“‘An Australian Story: A History of Twilight Aged Care 1915-2015’ is a very thought provoking celebration story. This book is primarily about the historical development of an aged care service provider. Although people in the aged care industry will be interested in
the story, many other readers interested in the history of society and the development and management of aged care services will find it a valuable read… It is relatively common for organisations to celebrate milestones with a historical publication. However, in this
contribution Ringer has used historical illustrations that not only provide the reader with the history of the institution, but he has used personal illustrations that capture timing in history. He has managed to merge the political and social interfaces over a period and weave a historical managerial story that captures the reader’s attention.”
– Dr. Eleanor Horton, Senior Lecturer in Nursing and Midwifery, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service
“This is a story waiting to be told; the research, the wonderfully illustrated and photographed content is a must for anyone interested in the history of aged care through the early 1900s up to where aged care has evolved to today… the book chronicles the important role that women and the Twilight Committee played post first and second world wars in lobbying for, not only older women in need of housing and care, but also for all older Australian in general… for Twilight Aged Care this is a significant book for the organisation, for the aged care community and the community at large.”
– Dr. Susanne Macri AM, D.Hon (ACU), FCNA. Board Director and Advisor in Healthcare.
“The very best historians are sensitive to the wider cultural factors that impact on their subjects. At the same time they write in ways that engage their readers. Ron Ringer is such a historian. While recording the details of the founding and evolution of Twilight House in New South Wales since 1915, he is ever alert to the changing social, political and economic influences affecting founders, administrators and residents. No matter the changes, the abiding exemplary lesson of Twilight Aged Care over the decades for aged care services today is this: despite increasing financial pressures, respect for dignity of residents must remain paramount.”
– Dr. Gerald A. Arbuckle, SM, Ph.D. Author: Humanizing Healthcare Reforms (2013)
Discover the history of Twilight Aged Care and purchase a copy of our book, ‘An Australian Story: A History of Twilight Aged Care 1915-2015’ by Ron Ringer at the price of $50.00
Call 02 94144400 or email info@twilight.org.au to purchase a copy of the book.
