Ms Thomson, 73, has been an important part of the Abbeyfield family since shortly after the Dunedin facility was built in 2007, providing tasty nutritious meals and keeping the household running smoothly for the nine residents of the purpose-built two storey house in Wakari.
Ms Thomson’s last day was on Friday, when she handed over the reins to newly appointed housekeeper Hayden Williams. Abbeyfield residents, friends and family will gather to celebrate her contribution this coming weekend.
"I have been very happy working at Abbeyfield these past 18 years, it is a special place to be," Ms Thomson said.
Abbeyfield is an international not-for-profit organisation that provides safe and affordable accommodation for retirees.
Abbeyfield Dunedin is one of 14 Abbeyfield homes across New Zealand, with more planned, and aims to be a home within a home. Each resident has a spacious suite with its own bathroom, and they share areas such as the lounge and dining room — eating lunch and dinner together each day.
Ms Thomson said a background in cooking and hospitality were useful for the varied role of housekeeper, which included preparing tasty meals for the residents, the weekly shop, housework, liaising with the volunteer committee and, most importantly, supporting and encouraging social connection among residents.
"It is quite a social role and is part of the residents’ lives — you get to know everyone very well," she said.
"Abbeyfield is their home and is very much like a family, so the residents help out with tasks around the place, as they wish.
"The residents get their own breakfast, and most like to have a leisurely start in their suites, and we come together for lunch and dinner.
"Residents are pretty independent and will head off to various activities, while also being involved in the life of the house — such as looking after the gardens."
Keeping on top of the vegetable garden is resident Jim Robinson, 95, who has been a keen gardener for many years — growing a large garden to feed his family.
The Abbeyfield vegetable plots are housed in raised planter boxes, and Mr Robinson is proud of the soil quality and the vegetables he produces.
"We have other keen gardeners as well, and some of our women residents keep the flower gardens around the place looking great," Ms Thomson said.
The support of the staff, committee members and residents — who ranged in age from in their 60s to 90s — was the reason she had been able to carry on into her 70s, Ms Thomson said.
"It has been wonderful to have that support and flexibility, and being a part of the residents’ lives has been very special."
The mother of three, grandmother of three and great-grandmother of two, who lives in Mosgiel, is looking forward to spending time with family and enjoying her home and garden.
"I’m not used to being idle, so I will do some volunteering and will come back to help Jim with the Abbeyfield vegetable garden," she said.
Long-serving Abbeyfield Dunedin board chairman Alan Somerville said Ms Thomson was a caring and compassionate person, who had always made the wellbeing of residents her top priority.
"Robyn has been an advocate for residents in all sorts of ways. She cares deeply about each and every resident and is sensitive to their circumstances," he said.
Ms Thomson’s retirement was "the end of an era" for Abbeyfield Dunedin, as she had "brought so much to the lives of the residents over the past 18 years".
It was great that Abbeyfield Dunedin, which was first mooted in 2003 by a group of pioneers including J.B. Munro, Anne Rodger, Florence Stone and Joyce Herd, was going from strength to strength, Mr Somerville said.
"It is a great model for providing affordable accommodation for older people that combines good food, warmth, and good company."
Mr Williams, who also has a background in cooking and hospitality, as well as caring for older people, is looking forward to continuing Ms Thomson’s work with residents.
"It feels like a good fit for my skill set, and Robyn has refined things over the past 18 years — so it is obviously a good pattern."
He plans to have a few more barbecues in the future, weather permitting.
For more information about Abbeyfield Dunedin, visit the website www.abbeyfield.co.nz, phone 464-0082, or email abbeyfield.dunedin@gmail.com
