A ‘topping out ceremony’ was recently held to celebrate UnitingSA West Lakes reaching its highest structural point.

In keeping with time-honoured tradition, the topping out ceremony saw the craning of a tree onto the top floor of the five-storey building. UnitingSA Board Chair Gael Fraser says it’s a significant milestone in the development, which is on track to welcome residents in early 2021.

“We are thrilled we have been able to move safely forward with this project amid COVID-19 and that we are on target to have building works complete by Christmas,” Ms Fraser says.

“This complex will provide a home to cater for people’s needs through every stage of the ageing journey – from Retirement Living to Residential Aged Care and, where needed, memory support for those living with dementia.

“UnitingSA West Lakes has been a long-held vision and we are excited to be part of a growing community which has older people at its heart.”

UnitingSA CEO Libby Craft says by bringing the different types of accommodation into one complex, the development will help address the varied aspects of ageing.

“For couples whose health and physical needs change at different rates, this development will provide the option of one person living independently in a retirement apartment while the other has their higher needs met in Residential Aged Care,” she says.

“We know being able to live under one roof will bring peace of mind to many during this later stage of life. “Across the aged care sector, the need for this combination of accommodation on one site is increasingly being recognised as important to people’s ongoing health and wellbeing.”

The topping out  ceremony included representatives from UnitingSA, Walter Brooke architects and Kennett Builders, who are carrying out the construction.

Did you know?

Topping out ceremonies are most commonly believed to have their origins in Scandinavia, where it is said in ancient times a tree was placed on top of a new building to appease the spirits displaced during construction.

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