By PSS | Posted: Tuesday December 4, 2018
In 2019 Presbyterian Support Southland will celebrate 100 years of making a difference in the lives of Southlanders young and old.
From its establishment in 1919, when Southland became a separate Association to Otago, the organisation then known as Presbyterian Support Services Association, went on to create a proud history of supportingSouthlanders.
In the beginning the Southland organisation was predominately focused on its residential homes for children. Allison, Cameron, Tweed Street, Gladstone, Highfield, Inglenook and Sutherland Homes all played important roles in the lives of hundreds of Southland children over the years. Children’s homes remained a significant part of the organisation’s work for many years, with the last of PSS’s homes only closing in 1989.
It wasn’t until 1948 that PSS diversified into the area of aged care. Cameron home was converted from a children’s home to a home for elderly women, becoming Presbyterian Support Southland’s first rest home.
PSS went on to own and manage multiple aged care facilities throughout the region, including homes in Wakatipu, Wyndham, Invercargill and Gore, and today, under the Enliven brand, proudly owns and operates Peacehaven Village, Vickery Court and Walmsley House in Invercargill, Resthaven Village in Gore and Frankton Court in Wakatipu Basin.
Through World Wars, global economic uncertainty, and many and varied legislative and societal changes, the organisation continued to adapt to community need, adding and changing its community offering.
Today, PSS is one of very few organisations to positively impact the entire age spectrum.
Family Works offers a wide range of social services that provide holistic and wraparound services to children, young people and their families’ year on year.
Under the Enliven brand, PSS not only owns and operates some of the south’s best aged care facilities, but it also provides services to the elderly living in their own homes, through volunteer based community service, SupportLink.
While times have changed the organisation remains committed to making a difference in the lives of those in the local community, both young and old.
There are many exciting plans for the upcoming centenary, and if you have any stories or memorabilia you would like to share, please do get in touch with Courtney Forde on 03 211 8252 or courtney.forde@pss.org.nz