The year was 1982 when Rynpark officially opened its doors
Rynpark started with 202 units in Rynpark One in 1982 and over the years the other parks were developed.
Rynpark Association for the Aged, based in Rynfield, has been around for the last 39 years and was officially opened by the Honourable SF Kotze, former Minister of Community Development, on October 30, 1982.
The association was founded by Louis Weinberg and Past George Snyman through the work of the Benoni Council for the Care of the Aged.
“It was a project of the Benoni Council for the Care of the Aged based in Benoni,” said Jill Webster, Rynpark board member.
“Rynpark was the brain child of Louis Weinberg, who was the chairperson of the Benoni Council for the Care of the Aged and a town councillor at the time.
“The reason for Benoni being chosen as the designated spot was because this was a vision of Weinberg, who was a Benoni resident and Benoni businessman at the time.”
Rynpark started with 202 units in Rynpark One in 1982 and over the years the other parks were developed.
There are now seven parks under the Rynpark umbrella, each with their own members’ committee.
“Under the management of Weinberg, Rynpark One, Two and the Frail Care were built,” said Marius Botha, Rynpark executive manager.
“Snyman, who was a town councillor at the time, became the chairperson and under his tenure, over a period of about eight years, he developed Rynpark Three, Four, Five and Six. Rynpark Four was opened on October 3, 1987.
“Raymond Meiring then became the chairperson of Rynpark and under his tenure, Rynpark Seven was built.”
Rynpark still stands today with 694 units shared out between seven parks and close to 1 000 residents and has added much over the years, showing incredible growth.
“We have at our disposal the services of professional social workers who monitor the needs and care of our residents,” said Webster.
“The benefit of our scheme is that the residents support and assist one another wherever possible. Each project also has its own clinic sister, who looks after the welfare of our residents.
“Rynpark provides medical services, morning clinic and home visits. We have three frail care facilities at Rynpark One, Four and Six with all the latest equipment and trained staff to cater for all the individual needs of our patrons, namely their physical, psychological, emotional, social and intellectual.”
The current board of Rynpark consists of six elected members from the seven different parks residents.
They are Terence Bezuidenhout (chairperson), Dr Phil Erasmus (vice-chairperson), Dave Langley (treasurer), *Jill Webster (risk and compliance), Tony Metzer (property and maintenance) and Tol Snyman (security and gardens).
“Our security has recently been upgraded with a state-of-the-art security system monitored by 150 cameras in a 24-hour control room and backed by armed response,” Botha explained.
“Each of the parks have their own hairdressing salons, the whole organisation is managed by an executive manager with a management team and nursing, maintenance and administrative staff.
“Each park has their own committee members. There are knitting groups, line dancing, arts and crafts, libraries and many more activities which residents can join.
“Meals are also available daily which can be ordered. Rynpark has grown massively over the years.”
*Name changed from Jan du Plessis to Jill Webster.
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