Above: From left, Valley Village Mews manager Cynthia Mack with residents Dorrit Blaze and Mary Holman in front of the display depicting the history of the village as a former brickworks site.
By Shaun Inguanzo
THE residents at Valley Village Mews had two reasons to celebrate last week.
Not only did the retirement village hold its annual Christmas party, but it celebrated the village’s 20th birthday.
The Stud Road site, a former brickworks business, was given museum-like treatment with help from the City of Greater Dandenong Council and Dandenong Historical Society, which helped set up a picture display and model of the former site.
Village manager Cynthia Mack said anyone who wished to visit – or revisit – a part of Dandenong’s history was welcome to visit the display in the village’s reception foyer.
In addition to the display, Valley Village Mews is fortunate enough to have living history among its ranks of retired Dandenong residents.
None of the residents were more qualified to talk about the village’s history last week than Mary Holman and Dorrit Blaze: Mrs Holman celebrates her 95th birthday on 21 December and Mrs Blaze is a healthy 91.
“Dorrit got up and made a lovely speech on how she loves it here, and how the village has changed,” Ms Mack said.
Ms Mack has been manager of the village for just 18 months, and said the historical display was an exciting project – as well as a great learning opportunity.
“I have lived in Dandenong for over 30 years, but I never recalled the brickworks being here,” she said. “Yet one resident here, her husband worked at the brickworks.”
After the formalities, it was time to kick back and celebrate the festive season.
Ms Mack said 142 residents attended the village’s official Christmas party.
