From matron to resident: Jenny Gilroy’s 33-year love affair with Rosehaven
After two decades managing Rosehaven Retirement Village, Jenny Gilroy is enjoying retirement at the very community she served for years.
An 84-year-old former matron who spent 20 years managing Rosehaven Retirement Village continues to call the facility home after more than three decades on the property.
Jenny Gilroy has lived at the village since 1993 and stayed on after retiring to enjoy her later years in familiar surroundings.
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Looking back on her time at Rosehaven, Gilroy described it as a wonderful place to live and retire, highlighting its beautiful gardens, comfortable accommodation and welcoming community.
“It’s a wonderful place to live and a lovely place to retire to as well. We’ve got beautiful gardens, we’ve got nice accommodation, what lovely people,” she said.
Having spent much of her life looking after residents, Gilroy now finds herself on the other side of retirement, with more time to relax and enjoy the facilities and activities available at Rosehaven.
“I’ve had a really good time at Rosehaven and enjoyed every minute of it, even though old people are not always easy.
“Now they’re getting their own back, or I’m getting my own back because I’m now a resident here.”
For Gilroy, retirement has brought the welcome freedom to set her own pace. Gone are the daily responsibilities of her role as matron, replaced by quieter mornings, breakfast at leisure and opportunities to participate in the village’s activities.
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“I must say, in a way, it’s nice to be retired because you can have a lie-in in the morning, get up, make tea, then make breakfast, and then just keep yourself busy with all the activities that go on at Rosehaven,” she said.
Keeping residents active and connected remains an important part of life at the village.
Gilroy said the activities include gentle gym sessions, Pilates and film screenings, while a dedicated team organises monthly parties at the swimming pool.
“It is very nice because we get time to sit together as residents and share our memories and laugh together. We also have a car that takes us shopping twice a week, and we get to unwind,” she said.
“We have strong ties with Rosebank Union Church across the road. We have a service in the dining room every Friday morning with the church. We try to do as many activities as we can with the residents, who unfortunately are getting older,” she added.
Her story reflects a remarkable full-circle journey: from matron responsible for residents’ well-being to a resident enjoying the community she helped serve for so many years.
After 33 years, Rosehaven remains the place where Gilroy feels at home, surrounded by familiar faces, meaningful friendships and the simple pleasures of retirement.
For her, the next chapter is not about leaving behind the life she built, but continuing to enjoy it from a different perspective.
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