The opening of The Residences at Brownesholme residential aged care community in Highfields has been officially celebrated with a special dedication event.

Aged Care Executive Manager, Jacinta Geraghty, said the opening of the $32 million facility was a “major milestone” for Carinity, which also offers home care services around the Darling Downs.

“We dedicate these residences to the work of the Lord and give thanks for all the love, generosity, genius, skill, hard work and commitment that brought us to this day,” Jacinta said.

“As we rejoice in the settlement of our first residents here, it is our prayer that The Residences at Brownesholme will be a great blessing to them and to all who will follow through coming years.”

Brownesholme is set on land donated by the late Molly Browne, the granddaughter of one of the district’s pioneering European settler families. Molly attended school in Highfields and managed the family farm after retiring from teaching.

Jacinta praised Molly for her foresight and generosity in bequeathing the land to Carinity’s parent organisation, Queensland Baptists.

“A devoted member and faithful attender of the Highfields Baptist Church, Molly lived frugally but was concerned for other people suffering old age and loneliness. In her will, Molly requested that her family’s 120-acre dairy farm be developed into a retirement village and aged care home,” Jacinta said.

In 1995, 10 years after Molly’s passing, a purpose-built residential lifestyle community for retirees opened with Gloria Phillips the first resident. Gloria shared Molly’s vision for an aged care home in Highfields and bequeathed $50,000 to Queensland Baptists for that purpose.