Managing Director of Catholic Healthcare, David Maher, and regional manager Matthew Filocamo, both travelled to Bathurst to be part of the celebrations, and congratulated the 10 staff who received long service awards along with the president of the auxiliary, Betty Burke, who has been at the helm of the auxiliary for the past 40 years.

In 1967 St Catherine’s opened as a 22-bed facility and took in its first residents, the Sisters of Mercy.

Since then the site has undergone major expansions including the extension of the common room, the installation of a lift and the opening of the first wing of the hostel.

In 1999 St Catherine’s Aged Care became a 69-bed facility, able to offer care for Sisters of Mercy, Sisters of St Joseph, priests of the diocese and lay men and women.

In 2001 the second wing of the hostel opened specifically providing care for sufferers of dementia.

In 2003 Catholic Healthcare took over the management and continued to develop the service, announcing in 2015 St Catherine’s would be redeveloped on a new site offering care to 130 residents.

At last week’s 50-year celebrations, regional manager, Matthew Filocamo congratulated everyone who has been part of the aged care facility saying they have made a difference to the lives of hundreds of people.

He said while St Catherine’s will move to new premises next year, the essence of what it does best, which is care for people, will continue on in the same vein.

Managing Director of Catholic Healthcare, David Maher, agreed, saying St Catherine’s 50-year milestone was a “tremendous achievement.”

“First of all congratulations to everyone who has been involved with St Catherine’s in the last 50 years, the service you have provided to the community is something you should be proud of.”

He also paid tribute to those who had the insight to create the aged care facility.