About Us
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What We Do
Independent Living
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Assisted Living (Care)
Leading Aged Care & Independent Living Services
We’ve become one of Australia’s leading privately owned companies providing aged care and independent living services and support.
Vision
Christophorus House Retirement Village (CHRV) is a thriving community where the living ideals of Anthroposophy infuse and enrich the care of the aged and those with special needs. For each individual, CHRV will be their home and CHRV will be sensitive to the cultural and spiritual background of each resident.
Mission
To provide a high quality environment to the community we serve, especially aged and disabled persons, based on the therapeutic and social ideals of Dr Rudolf Steiner; emphasising respect for the dignity of the individual. This will be achieved through maintaining a harmonious, healing and aesthetic environment, providing nursing care practices and other services of the highest standard.
Values
Compassion
We care about others and seek to understand our residents’ life and journey.
Accountability
Family
Diversity
Integrity
Dignity
Our History
CHRISTOPHORUS HOUSE was founded in 1974 as a voluntary association of members of the Anthroposophical Society which works with Christ-oriented knowledge known as Anthroposophy (i.e. the wisdom of the human being) given by Dr Rudolf Steiner for the life and healing of humanity in this age.
The name Christophorus comes from an old legend whose hero, Orphorus, out of his strength and devotion, sought to serve the mightiest King there was – the Christ – and thus served humanity. The name Christophorus is also associated with Saint Christopher who, the legend tells, carried a child on his back across a river until he revealed himself as the Christ.
How Christophorus House Was Born
The founding impulse for Christophorus House arose in the heart of an Austrian woman called Helga Forster.
Helga came to Australia by boat in 1948. Born and raised in the lovely Austrian mountains, Helga was well educated, loved skiing and playing the piano. Finding Australia a very different culture at that time, Helga struggled for 25 years to find her niche. She tried nursing and then worked in a legal practice.
Her inner life was idealistic and permeated with the spiritual writings of Rudolf Steiner, Austrian philosopher and founder of Anthroposophy.
Helga’s Dream
A fellow immigrant, who was also deeply involved with Anthroposophy, wrote of Helga’s dream, which ignited her will and heart to find a place of retirement for people in the closing years of life.
Amelie Hanbury-Sparrow – (early resident)
“One day when I met Helga, I sensed a difference in her and she seemed both solemn and excited. We sat down together and she said: “Amelie, I must tell you something very important. I have had a dream! I dreamed I came into a park. It was a dark night and very cold. Then I saw lying in front of me, the figure of an old man. He looked so desolate, so forlorn!
He did not speak, but I seemed to hear him whispering ‘help’! Now this image stands before me, I see him day and night and it has become clear to me that I have to do something to help build a home for old people.’ It was clear that this was much more than a dream and a good idea – it certainly was a vision”.
Can one imagine a single person impulsively writing to the governing powers of today asking the question Helga asked in May, 1973? She wrote three letters: one to Mr. Hayden, the Social Security Minister; another to the Department of Treasury and a third to the Chief Secretary’s Department, seeking information on how to go about building a retirement village. Her legal experience equipped her well for the task of gaining precise knowledge of all necessary procedures. In this, she was greatly supported by Louis Tromp, who for many years, served as Treasurer and Advisor on financial matters, and who shared her enthusiasm and mission.
The capacity to communicate such a fiery mission as lived in Helga is the other side of the story. Single initiatives cannot survive without a community of support. The support came from Helga’s fellow members of the Anthroposophical Society in Sydney, who also recognised the growing community need for care and housing and a nourishing way of life for ageing people.
“An enormous impetus drove all its members to achieve the seemingly impossible goal, with no money and lots of difficulties! Whilst some worked on plans, others began to collect funds. Helga gave up her good job in order to dedicate herself completely to the task. Contributions came in, donations were made, and fund-raising parties were organized. I particularly remember those in the house of Dick and Beryl van Leer, which brought us all much closer together and raised quite a lot of money” said Amelie.
In 1981, the Village was incorporated as a Public Company Limited by Guarantee and is a “non-profit’ and ‘public benevolent organisation’. It is a member of the Aged Services Association but has no affiliations with any church denomination, political or other group. The basic tenet is the freedom of the individual to follow his or her own lifestyle, in full recognition of the needs and rights of others.
Contact Us
Christophorus House
396 Peats Ferry Road, Hornsby, NSW, 2077
Phone
02 9476 3161
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.
We are committed to creating an inclusive environment. We celebrate, value and include people of all backgrounds, genders, sexualities, cultures, bodies and abilities.
