Help tell the Gympie Origin Stories

Help tell the Gympie Origin Stories

Lutheran Services is inviting people connected with Zion Gympie Retirement Living and Cooinda Aged Care to share their memories as part of the Origin Stories project.

Together with the congregations and communities that helped shape us, Lutheran Services has served the people and communities of Queensland since 1935.

To celebrate and commemorate these beginnings, Lutheran Services is conducting an Origin Stories project. In collaboration with the Lutheran Church of Australia Queensland District, we are exploring, documenting and sharing the histories and stories behind our services and sites.

The story of Zion Gympie Retirement Village began through the vision, faith and hard work of the Zion Gympie congregation, who saw a need and worked together to create a place of care and community.

Cooinda Aged Care also has deep roots in Gympie. Opened in December 1965, Cooinda grew from local care, fundraising and community spirit, and has now marked 60 years of caring for older people in Gympie.

Join the conversation

We are especially hoping to hear from people connected to the early days of Zion Gympie Retirement Living and Cooinda Aged Care, including founding members, congregation members, committee members, residents, families, volunteers, community supporters and long-serving team members.

We welcome the whole story, the hopeful moments, the hard work, the challenges, the setbacks, the funny memories and everything in between.

Gympie Origin Storytelling Day, Sunday 1 November 2026

Zion Gympie storytelling session
Zion Gympie Lutheran Church, 9 Nash Street Gympie
8.15am, Worship service
10.30am to 12.30pm, Storytelling
Zion Gympie congregation community hall
Light lunch provided

Cooinda storytelling session
In the Chapel, Cooinda Aged Care, 2 Cooinda Street Gympie
2.00pm to 4.00pm
Light refreshments provided

LCAQD Bishop, Rev Dr Mark Vainikka is planning to join us for worship and both storytelling sessions.

RSVP or share your story

For seating and catering, please RSVP by 25 October to: Robyn robyn.robertson@lutheranservices.org.au, 07 3858 5183

Not able to attend, but have a memory, great story, photo or document to share? Please contact writer Alan James: alan.james@lutheranservices.org.au

By sharing your memories, you can help honour the people, faith, care and community spirit that shaped Zion Gympie Retirement Village and Cooinda Aged Care.

You can explore our Origin Stories here: lutheranservices.org.au/origin-stories

Image at top:

Celebrating 30 years of Zion Gympie Retirement Living
The July morning tea brought residents, congregation members and Lutheran Services team members together to celebrate the village’s story.

Centre left:

First Committee of Management, 1988
John Edmond, John Rackemann, Max Hartwig, Ken Wilks, Roy Maroske and Percy Kummerow helped guide the early work of Zion Lutheran Retirement Village.

Centre right: 

Cooinda Aged Care celebrates 60 years
Cooinda opened in December 1965 and grew through local care, fundraising and community spirit.