Opening of the Tiwi Gardens Village

5 May 1996

The Tiwi Gardens Retirement Village in the northern suburbs of Darwin was established on the site of the former Tiwi Primary School closed by reason of declining enrolments in the early 1990's by Minister for Education & Training Shane Stone. A controversial decision at the time Tiwi School was among a number closed by the CLP Perron Government who in turn committed to a program of new schools in areas reflecting population growth. Tiwi School site was put out to public tender to facilitate an aged care retirement facility. At the time the NT was in dire need of aged care and retirement facilities to accommodate an emerging ageing population. Masonic Homes SA & NT were the successful tenderer. The Governor-General His Excellency the Honourable Sir William Deane AV KBE QC opened Tiwi Gardens Village. The official party inspecting the new facility including Administrator of the NT the Honourable Austin Asche (Grand Master United Masonic Lodge Victoria 1984-1986) and Dr Val Asche and the Grand Master of The Grand Lodge of South Australia and Northern Territory Mr David E Fewster. A truly ecumenical event the Governor General Sir William Deane was a Papal Knight (Order of St. Gregory the Great with Star).

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