History

Units 1 & 2 - on the corner of Gordon and Price Streets were opened on 11 December 1975. The inaugural committee of the Kulin Retirement Homes Inc was formed approximately three years prior. A local voluntary committee worked in conjunction with the Shire to build units 1 & 2.  The Kulin Masonic Lodge generously donated the land to commence building the units.  The Kulin Lions club supplied materials, concreted the pad and paid for the original personal alarm system to be installed.

Units 3 & 4 – in Price St were also built by the Kulin Shire with assistance from a local volunteer committee. There is no plaque to establish the exact date units 3 and 4 were opened, however it is believed to be close to 1985. The Kulin Lions club donated a cash contribution of $10,000 towards the building of these units.
 
Kulinda Village
Following a ‘Getting Kulin Going’ community meeting, held in Kulin in September 1994, aged care facilities and housing were identified as an area of need for the town.  Subsequently, a Retirement Strategy was developed for Kulin.

An Annual General Meeting of the Kulin Retirement Homes Committee was called and a group of interested people were elected to look at the feasibility of establishing a project.

Initially, the committee was working towards building a Frail Aged Hostel in Kulin. Visits were made to Corrigin and Quairading to look at the hostel accommodation built in those towns, with predominantly Federal Government funding. We had a similar plan drawn up by an Architect. The Kulin Retirement Homes committee then lodged a submission with the Commonwealth Department of Human Services and Health. However, our application coincided with the Federal Government cutting funding for Frail Aged Hostel places. The  Government redirected funds into programmes like HACC to keep the elderly in their own homes.

With no prospect of building a Frail Aged Hostel in Kulin, the Committee in conjunction with the Shire of Kulin, investigated other avenues of funding. The Homeswest Joint Venture was the most attractive option for building units. Units 5-10 were built as a result of a successful funding application and a fundraising drive in Kulin. The units were opened on 19 September 1997.

Community funds were needed to build the joint venture units. The committee undertook fundraising which included catering, cropping the air strip and donations of grain and cash. Kulin community groups, businesses, individuals and farmers were extremely generous donating time, grain and money to the project. Cultivating Kulin Committee, funded by Kulin Bush Races made a $10,000 cash contribution. The overwhelming support gave the Retirement Homes Committee their cash contribution, allowing the project to proceed. The land for the entire Kulin Retirement Homes buildings was generously donated by the Kulin Masonic Lodge.

During the fundraising drive, the committee advertised frequently in the Kulin Cultivator requesting donations for the housing project. An ex resident of Kulin, Ms Kath Workman had been receiving a monthly edition of the Kulin Cultivator and became aware of the Retirement Homes fundraising drive. She lived in Mandurah and was known only to a few Kulin residents. Following her death in 1997, we were advised that Ms Workman had bequeathed her estate to the Kulin Retirement Homes. The Workman estate will largely provide the cash contribution to the building of more units at Kulinda Village. Convincing the State Government to fund another project is the biggest challenge!

The building of all units at Kulinda Village has been made possible by the valuable support of the Shire of Kulin. The Shire continues to provide ongoing support and expertise, which is greatly appreciated by the committee of Kulin Retirement Homes Inc.

Margaret Kathleen (Kath) Workman 1917 –  1997
Kath Workman was the youngest daughter of Josephine and Sydney Workman, who were pioneer settlers in the Kulin area. It is believed they commenced farming in Kulin about 1911-1912. Kath had an older brother and sister, Fred and Jean. Kath’s mother, Mrs Josephine Workman, a midwife, delivered most of the babies in the Kulin area around that time.

Kath Workman finished at Kulin School in 1932 and left Kulin in 1937 when the farming property was sold.

The Workmans originally owned the 1,000 acre property on the east side of Notley Rd, which is now owned by Mike Wilson. The property was sold to Basil Parker’s father in about 1937.

Parents of Margaret Kathleen (Kath) Workman

Mrs Josephine Workman, born 1875, died 1935 (mother of Kath).

Mr Sydney Burt Workman, born 1870, died 1943 (father of Kath).

Children of Josephine and Sydney Workman

1. Frederick Robert Workman, born 1905 and died 1970 (brother of Kath).
2. Jean Phillips Carey, born 1908 and died 1984 (sister of Kath). Jean was a nurse, who worked as the Matron at the Kondinin hospital sometime during the mid 30’s.
3. Margaret Kathleen Workman (Kath), born 1917 and died 1997.