What’s happening?
Lutheran Services has celebrated 90 years of service in Toowoomba, marking the anniversary of Salem Aged Care and the foundation of the organisation.
The milestone was marked yesterday with a thanksgiving service, the presentation of the Salem Origin Story, a community morning tea and a family fun day. Special guests included Bishop Dr Mark Vainikka and Toowoomba Mayor Geoff McDonald.
Why it matters?
This milestone highlights the long-standing role Salem has played in Queensland’s aged care sector.
Lutheran Services CEO Nick Ryan called it “an extraordinary milestone in the state’s aged care sector” and said very few aged care homes could claim a nine-decade history.
Salem’s legacy reflects the work of local congregations who built the service on values of kindness, generosity and faith.
Local impact
Salem has become a trusted home for generations.
Resident Janice Richardson celebrated her 80th birthday on the same day as the anniversary and said the service has been part of her life since childhood. “It has always been my wish that no matter where I was living, Salem would become my home when I needed it,” she said. “I feel safe, well cared for and everyone is so lovely.”
By the numbers
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Salem welcomed its first four residents in 1935, showing its modest beginnings during early community fundraising.
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Today, it is home to 87 residents, supported by more than 130 staff who provide daily care.
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Lutheran Services has 11 aged care sites across Queensland and supports more than 6,000 people each year across aged care, retirement living, disability, mental health and community services.
Zoom in
Nick Ryan said Salem’s history is tied to Toowoomba and the Lutheran Church in Queensland. He explained how the original congregations pushed through drought and hardship to create a place built on kindness and faith.
“Salem grew, not because it was easy, but because the community believed that its seniors deserved dignity, belonging and a place to call home,” he said.
Janice Richardson’s story also grounds the milestone in lived experience.
She grew up watching Salem change along Hume Street before moving in more than four years ago. She said she enjoys being around the young people who care for residents every day.
Zoom out
The milestone sits within the broader expansion of Lutheran Services.
The organisation now operates 11 aged care sites, including Northridge Salem in Rockville, which opened in 1996 with 42 beds. Lutheran Services is one of Queensland’s longest-established not-for-profit providers, supporting more than 6,000 people each year across both metropolitan and regional areas.
What to look for next?
Lutheran Services will continue its 90-year celebrations into 2025 as it highlights the history of its sites, long-serving staff, and its evolving work in aged care, disability support and community services across Queensland.