A Carinity seniors' community has paid tribute to a pioneering family whose generosity led to the establishment of an aged care home.
A framed image of Eliza Dart, whose family settled in Brookfield in western Brisbane after migrating from Europe more than 150 years ago, now hangs in the foyer of the Carinity Brookfield Green aged care home.
Brookfield Green opened as 'Resthaven' in 1972 on land gifted to the Baptist Union of Queensland by the Dart family.
The land was acquired by noted Baptist contributor, Samuel Dart, in 1869. In honour of his parents, Samuel and Eliza, Dr John Lesie Dart gifted 34 acres of land for an aged care home in 1964.
Brookfield Green's dining room and residential wings pay homage to the Dart family. Eliza wing is named after Eliza Dart, and Lucinda wing honours Eliza's mother, Lucinda Brimblecombe.
Kittybrook wing is a combination of the words 'Kitty' and 'brook'. 'Kitty' was the name of the milking cow which sustained the family during its pioneering days, and 'brook' recognises the stream which flows across the aged care site.
Carinity CEO, Kevin Griffiths, said Brookfield Green proudly pays tribute to the history of the district and to a stalwart family of Queensland's Baptist community.
"Carinity is proud to have strong links to Brookfield and to honour this pioneering family which has faithfully served the Baptist Church over several generations," Kevin said.
"Samuel and Eliza Dart helped start the first church in Laidley with subsequent generations of their family involved in Baptist endeavours. Descendants of the Dart family remain deeply engrained within the Carinity community."
Samuel and Eliza's great great-grandson, Steve Dart, works in the ICT team at Carinity's head office in Brisbane, while his mother, Narelle, is a member of the Carinity Council and the Queensland Baptists Board.
Narelle said her relative, Dr John Leslie Dart, was a very generous man. She is proud of the legacy he left for seniors of the district.
"It's just wonderful to be able to see, this far down the track, what has happened at Brookfield Green and what a beautiful place it has become for residents to live in," Narelle said.
"The Lord gives us gifts, he gives us talents, and the way that we use these lives on long after we're gone."
