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Australia's longest serving mental health service provider marked a massive milestone in Lithgow on Friday.
Aftercare has been celebrating its 110th birthday during the month of July and it was Lithgow’s turn to have a party this week.
Aftercare regional manager Kate Snars said the organisation had grown a lot over the past 110 years but continued to be based on the same core principles.
“It’s just such a joy to be celebrating this 110 years,” Ms Snars said.
“110 years ago Emily Patterson who was a lady who had a vision impairment herself saw in the need in the community and said that what people need is a place to go, a place where people are welcoming and accepting and will help them get back on their feet and we’re still doing the same thing now.”
Aftercare opened its doors in Lithgow in 2008 and Ms Snars the organisation would keep moving forward to help all people including those in regional communities.
“We always try and be as responsive as we can to the individual,” she said.
“So basically we have a whole suite of different kinds of service but at the base of all of them is a commitment to an individualised recovery journey that belongs to the client themselves.”
Aftercare now operates in 60 locations with close to 600 staff members.
“We see 6000 people in a year so that’s just such an amazing growth from Emily having a tea party in her front room, which is where she began just like we’re having today.”
Ms Snars also mentioned Aftercare’s launch of their new logo.
“It’s quite sympbolic and meaningful for us. So we’ve chosen the red and the orange colouring to symbolise our grounding in the community and the tree itself symbolises both our growth and our deep roots.”