Instrumental Bolton Clarke Winders Founder Honoured With Memorial

The name ‘Winders’ has a long and prominent history on the Tweed Coast including at Bolton Clarke Winders, a residential aged care community in the local area.

Former Gold Coast Deputy Mayor and Twin Towns Services Club founding Chairman, the late Mick Winders, was a driving force behind establishment of the aged care residence.

Earlier this month, his legacy was celebrated by Bolton Clarke Winders staff, residents and guests with the installation of a memorial plaque donated by the Twin Towns club.

Boplton Clarke Winders residential manager Michael O’Connor said he couldn’t be prouder to have Mick’s face greeting visitors to his community.

“Mick was adamant the club gave back to the community,” he said.

“The contributions of the club extended to preschools, surf clubs, sports clubs, palliative care centres, and in our case, aged care.”

Mr O’Connor said above all, Mick’s most valuable contribution was the development of Winders Lodge and Cottages.

One grateful resident who attended this week’s ceremony is Melva Cobban, who took residence in the community’s first Independent Retirement Living Unit in 1991.

“They hadn’t even finished the driveway when we moved in,” she said.

As a regular visitor to the Twin Towns Club she saw models of its construction and knew it was the place she and her husband wanted to live in.

“Mick Winders had wonderful foresight,” she said.

“My husband loved it here, he called it heaven with the gate shut.”

Today, Bolton Clarke Winders continues to thrive, as does the Twin Towns Club just across the road (where Mick famously pulled the first pint behind the bar in 1957) – the organisations connected by their history and continued commitment to supporting residents with the services they need in their local community.

Find out more about Bolton Clarke. 

Pictured: David Bell (RSL representative), Geoff Partridge (RSL sub branch, Winders Lodge RSL representative), Dr John Griffin (Twin Towns), Dave George (creator of replica medals for the cabinet) and John Connelly (Twin Towns director)