ALLEN Park recently turned 40 years old and to celebrate this milestone, they held a fancy dinner affair.
The old age home celebrated its birthday with a wonderful evening of musical performances, amazing food and great company.
People also enjoyed a delicious three-course meal consisting of an avo and biltong, salmon and rainbow salad starter, leg of lamb with green figs and red wine main, and for dessert a trio of malva pudding, Black Forest cake and vanilla ice cream was served.
Established in 1976, the land on which the Allen Park Service Centre and Housing Complex is built, belonged to the Allen family who farmed there from 1896 to 1963.
According to the Council for the Aged Kempton Park manager, André Naudé, the land was then donated to the people of Kempton with the understanding that it must be used to erect a facility for the benefit of the elderly persons of the town.
As a result, a service centre and housing complex were built on the land, which were operational by 1976.
More photographs of the evening
“The housing complex, now known by the name Platteland, was later extended to become a three-storey complex of flats named Hillbrow and 246 flats were made available to rent out to the elderly residents,” Naudé said, as he explained the history of Allen Park.
Currently housing 300 people, the home offers accommodation services such as a frail care unit, assisted living and flats to rent. They also have a service centre where meals are served seven days a week as well as a laundry facility.
Residents also enjoy recreational facilities and activities such as a seniors and snooker club, library, hairdresser, bowling green, arts and crafts hobby classes and church-related services four days a week.
The home regularly hosts morning teas and functions, music concerts as well as a big fête in May every year.
Allen Park also boasts housing famous South African golfer Ernie Els’ grandparents in the past.
“A wall of remembrance has just been completed on the Allen Park grounds with over 600 niches for the ashes of beloved family members who have passed on. This wall is dedicated to the Allen family in honour of their generous support in the past,” Naudé said.
Allen Park is one of the many homes under the Council for the Aged Kempton Park.
