A moment in time unsealed

RESIDENTS at the Bendigo Retirement Village took a trip down memory lane at the opening of a twenty-year-old time capsule last week.

The time capsule preserved the region’s oldest retirement community as it was in 2002 with everything from photos and an information pack for the village to a booklet featuring the signatures of every resident at the time.

Julie Pellas witnessed the opening of the time capsule her late father, Ivan, helped bury and said he would’ve loved to see the unveiling.

“He was on the social committee of the retirement village so that’s probably why he was involved with it,” Ms Pellas said.

“He was probably involved in instigating the whole thing, it’s the sort of thing he would’ve done. He was very interested in preserving history.”

Sitting below what was only a sapling when it went into the ground, the time capsule’s location was marked with a plaque honouring Clarence and Dorothy Jaensch who also helped bury it.

Now, that sturdy tree welcomes visitors to the 18-acre, 162-unit village, which has continued to expand since its opening in 1982.

Resident Iris Wilson said she was excited to see the time capsule she saw buried two decades ago finally unearthed.

At 84 years old, Ms Wilson said she’s enjoyed her time at the village since her move.

“I love being here, I’ve spent 20 years here,” she said. “It’s a very friendly place and you don’t have to be lonely.”

Another time capsule is set to be buried at the village in the coming weeks.