40 years of family care

The Mackay family have been connected with Anglicare Southern Queensland for the past four decades, a service which has continued to this day.

Colin Mackay is 89-years-old and living independently at his Alexandra Hills property after the passing of his late wife Olga in 2018.

Colin can still drive his car, has his own mobile phone and drives his motorised scooter to the shops unassisted and fills in his day by gardening and handy-man work.

His wife and his mum were both looked after by Anglicare Southern Queensland.

Colin Mackay is 89 years old and has been affiliated with Anglicare Southern Queensland for the past four decades. He said he will always have a great appreciation for the nurses who helped look after his late wife and mum.

Living in Alexandra Hills, Colin can still drive his car, has his own mobile phone and is living independently in his Old Queenslander following the passing of his wife in 2018.

“I will always be in favour of Anglicare Southern Queensland and St Luke’s as they always did a good job and they were always happy to help,” Colin said.

Colin was born in New South Wales in a little place called Bowraville on a dairy farm approximately 16km from Kennaicle Creek on November 23, 1930. He described himself as doing a mixture of everything; from dairy work, timber work, fruit picking to working for Main Roads and then for the Redland Shire Council for close to 20 years.

“We (mum and siblings) bought a property next door to my wife’s place in Redland Bay in 1957. That was the first time we ever met,” he said.

Two years later, Colin and his wife Olga married on April 4, 1959.

For 150 years Anglicare Southern Queensland staff have connected with people on every step of their life path, responding with compassion, creativity, commitment and courage to the needs of the members of our community who require support.

Colin has one son who lives in Bellingen, NSW and the two speak every Sunday via phone due to the latest COVID-19 regulations.

“Once this virus clears up, I will visit him,” he said.

When Colin retired, he and his wife bought a motorhome and went travelling around Australia, until Olga became sick, and couldn’t travel anymore.

She suffered leg ulcers for many years and required in-home care which was offered by Spiritus, now known as Anglicare Southern Queensland. Two nurses would come to their Alexandra Hills property five days a week to dress her ulcers. After several years, the ulcers disappeared, but eventually came back.

“It was finally fixed up until it broke out on her left leg two years later. Her ulcers remained until the day she passed away on September 15, 2018,” Colin said.

Olga passed away from a suspected heart attack at the Nandeebie Aged Care Facility.

Colin said he first came in contact with Anglicare Southern Queensland back in 1980 when his mum, Katie Elizabeth Mackay needed in-home care assistance.

Sadly she passed away at the age of 88 in 1989.

Colin is keeping busy with pottering and riding his motorised scooter to the shops and back.

Anglicare Southern Queensland are still connected with Colin and they help him with his cleaning once a fortnight.