Twilanga Retirement Village

Twilanga Milestones

The original concept of The Twilanga Retirement Village was initiated by the Borough of Umhlanga in 1974 and the association was formed in 1975. The land was then donated to the Borough by Natal Estates (now Tongaat Hulett).

In addition, the Rotary Club of Umhlanga was asked to assist in funding the project.  They accepted the challenge and, assisted by the local Round Table and Lions Clubs via the original Umhlanga Festival, the funds were raised to finance the common property buildings (other than the Care Centre).  The land is now leased from the City of Durban at a peppercorn rental and in 2013 will still have seventy seven years to run.

1973
1973
Rotary Club of Umhlanga

Rotary Club of Umhlanga is chartered with Dave Oehley as a founding member.

1974
1974
Umhlanga Borough Mayor

Umhlanga Borough Mayor, George Herselmann, pioneers the establishment of a retirement home and challenges fellow councillor Dave Oehley, and Rotary to raise funds.

1975
1975
Inaugural meeting

Inaugural meeting of The Umhlanga Senior Citizens Association. Ken Riggs is elected Chairman and Dave Oehley Vice-Chairman and the constitution is adopted. Rotary. Lions and Round Table launch the first Umhlanga Festival which raises R169 000 for Twilanga, over 5 years. Dave is the Festival Chairman.

1977
1977
Ken Riggs

Ken Riggs arranged for Natal Estates (which later became Huletts) to donate land to the Borough to be leased to the Association. The lease was later extended to expire in 2093.

1978
1978
Dave Oehley

Dave Oehley is elected Chairman of the Association. the Association, a position he held for 36 years.

1980
1980
Clinray Construction

Clinray Construction started building Twilanga.

1981
1981
The first Twilanga residents

The first Twilanga residents took occupation in April 1981, paying R16 500 for the life rights to a cottage on life rights. Dave Oehley is appointed Manager.

1987
1987
An additional 3000m2 of land

An additional 3000m2 of land was donated to the Borough by Huletts.

1987
The first Care Centre facility

The first Care Centre facility was opened, using converted rooms, providing care facilities for 13 people.

1992
1992
A major expansion

A major expansion on the new land was completed and named the Oehley Wing.

1992
Henry Antelme

Henry Antelme is appointed Manager.

1993
1993
A new Care Centre

A new Care Centre was built by converting 3 bed sitters and 2 cottages to accommodate 28 people, and named  the Ken Riggs Care Centre.

1996
1996
Four new bedsitters

Four new bedsitters, three one-bedroom flats and a staff restroom were built, and a lift installed.

1996
The Twilanga Care Trust

The Twilanga Care Trust was established to assist Residents in time of need, with attorney Anton Bryant as Chairman.

1999
1999
Rotarian Clive Hull

Henri retires and is succeeded by Rotarian Clive Hull as General Manager.

2002
2002
The Board

The Board begins to streamline policies and procedures, outsourcing, and establishing sub committees.

2008
2008
An emergency generator

An emergency generator installed to service the Care Centre and the whole complex in times of power failures.

2008
Expand facilities

After lengthy negotiations, plans that started in 2000 to acquire adjacent lot 1500 were abandoned, and the decision was made to expand facilities on the existing property.  Dave Oehley heads up the project team which included Barry Dobson and Alan Whittaker.

2008
Vision, mission and values

The Board adopts a vision, mission and values system which puts elders at the centre of the organisation’s focus.

2009
2009
Mike Bowley

Clive retires and is succeeded as General Manager by ex-Rotarian Mike Bowley.

2013
2013
New three-story block

The new three-story block consisting of the state-of-the-art Care Centre, office, parking, and luxury residential apartments is completed at a cost of R22m. Of note is that no money has ever been borrowed by the Association.

2013
Rotarian Rob Hay

Dave Oehley retires as Chairman and is succeeded by Rotarian Rob Hay. Dave & Connie move into Twilanga as residents.

2020
2020
COVID-19

COVID-19 turns everyone’s lives upside down, but great work is done to protect residents by Management and staff.