Since Helen Grofski moved into Ngaio Marsh Village back in 1999, she’s made friends, and helped the development of a lively village social life at the heart of one of Ryman’s early villages.

Helen, who still lives in her original townhouse, says she’s loved being part of Ryman’s journey and witnessing its growth and advancements over a good portion of Ryman’s 40 years in the retirement village sector.

She now has 25 years as a village resident and recalls that she and many of the other early Ngaio Marsh move-ins were a very social bunch.

“That was the lovely part of it, because there weren’t many of us. There have been so many things that you can do as a resident here and have a lot of fun.”

Helen is now looking forward to fun-filled birthday celebrations of Ryman’s four decades of care and kindness on September 19 and will dress up to enjoy a special Ngaio Marsh Village occasion. After 25 years of village life, she says she feels lucky to have experienced the early days.

When she and her mother Vera first became residents, they were looking to their future, anticipating the turn of the millennium and also excited about a new-build village. “To see the village centre atrium was just a stunner,” she says.

They had been living together in their family home in Erica Street, Papanui. Given her mum had celebrated her 90^th birthday, the two were very happy to relocate from just around the corner. The pair also enjoyed a period tramping together in the South Island.

Helen remembers talking to then village Sales Advisor Debbie Jarratt about a move-in with her mum and Debbie saying with her outgoing personality, she would likely contribute to the social gatherings and goings-on.

Their conversation proved correct, and Helen remembers some wonderful friendships that emerged from the early days.

Regular weekly outings were one popular choice. While two vans were always available, and able to carry a total of 22 residents, they would usually be quickly filled to go to a café or eatery nearby. Extra residents were always keen to come along, so those who had cars made them available so everyone could join in on an adventure. Everyone on the trip would pay an extra dollar towards a contribution for car petrol money.

Early on the village had a higher proportion of women, Helen remembers. But in recent years many couples have moved in, providing balance. She really does think fondly those especially enjoyable early outings.

Ryman was founded in 1984 by entrepreneurs Kevin Hickman and John Ryder with villages opened first in the South Island then the North Island and Victoria. Of course there were challenges.

Both the Christchurch team and village residents remember the disruptions of 2010/11. On February 22, 2011 the most damaging earthquake of a sequence hit the high-rise Clarendon Tower in central Christchurch. The 6.3 magnitude earthquake impacted the building and the Ryman office, meaning many of that office team temporarily relocated to Ngaio Marsh to do their daily work. “But we left the team alone. Everybody was all a bit shocked really,” Helen remembers of that time.

Helen, left, with Ryman Resident Wellness Programmes Specialist Chelsea Richdale and residents.

Taking up residence in the village townhouse followed on from Helen’s medical career For more than 30 years she was a Registered Nurse, working for a lot of that time as a nurse manager in the plastic and reconstructive theatres at Burwood Hospital.

There was an early brief career interlude which sparked an interest in cars, which she has spoken in public about. She worked for Croydon Motors, involved in the assembly of Japanese cars including Datsuns, helping out in the new car department. Helen still regularly uses her 2001 Toyota Runx, and has owned a number of vehicles including her first, an Austin A30. “I’ve always liked cars... I travel quite a lot, always have.”

This interest led to a campervan trip after meeting her parents in the United Kingdom in 1959. All three had travelled to the northern hemisphere by ship, with Helen having travelled on the Dutch boat, M.S. Willem Ruys, which later was renamed as Achille Lauro. The three took to adventuring for six months around the UK in a Bedford Dormobile – a 1950s-era campervan.

Helen, celebrated 25 years in Ngaio Marsh Village on August 12.