Twenty five years ago on 9 April 1979 a dream was realized when the doors of Alexandra Park were opened and the first elderly residents were admitted. The establishment of the Home had not been an easy one and many members of the community of Scottburgh had contributed greatly to it. One can only admire the tenacity and perseverance of the founding fathers of the Alexandra Homes for the Aged Society and their successors under whose watchful eyes Alexandra Park was constructed and later managed.

How did this come about?
The concept of a home for the elderly took place in 1964 when Mrs Ruth Luck called the Mayor, Councillor Ken Sara, to her home and informed him that she wished to leave her home to the Borough of Scottburgh for the express purpose of establishing a home for the aged in this area. The Mayor arranged for the will to be drawn up and on Mrs Luck' s demise the estate was bequeathed to the Borough.
The Mayor convened a meeting on 27 January 1965 with the aim of establishing a Board of Management whose objective was to consider the provision of accommodation for the aged dwelling within the boundaries of the Alexandra County only.
The first meeting of the Board of Management took place on 1 February 1965 and consideration was given to the possible use of Mrs Luck's cottage which was situated in Williamson Street.
It was decided that the property on it's own was too small to be used as a Home for the aged and it was decided that attempts should be made to acquire other more suitable property and if necessary sell the cottage.
And so the battle began. The name of the Board was changed to the Alexandra Homes for the Aged Society and in 1966 the Society was registered as a Welfare Organization. Eventually a second property, the Palms in Williarnson Street, was purchased (June 1965). Numerous attempts were made to utilize the two properties and various plans to do so were drawn up. Approaches were made to Governmental and Provincial Departments and personnel for assistance to establish a home for the Aged, but to no avail.
Then, under the Chairmanship of Mr Charles Crookes in 1970, an approach was made to a well known industrialist Mr, later Dr, C. I Fuchs, who had a number of connections in the Government, to assist with the establishment of a Home. Mr Fuchs offered Alexandra Homes for the Aged a one acre stand in Scottburgh South on condition that the other two properties in Scottburgh Central be sold.

Initially the Committee declined the offer, but in June 1971 the offer was accepted. In 1973 Mr Fuchs donated another adjoining stand and Mr Charles and Mrs Jean Crookes donated a further one.
On 23 January 1974 the Board of Trustees of Alexandra Homes for the Aged was appointed whose role it was and still is to take general control of the management of the Society.
All this time fund raising had gone on being driven by the Committee and supported by the residents of Scottburgh and the surrounding areas. Further stands were purchased and consolidated with die initial ones as funds became available. Discussions with, and appeals to, were made to numerous Governmental and Provincial Departments to obtain permission to establish a Home and also to obtain a loan. Finally permission was given and a loan was granted on 1 April 1978, In the interim plans had been drawn up with the assistance of Mr Fuchs and the tender to build was awarded to Eax Builders of Pinetown. Construction commenced on 8 June 1978 and was completed on 9 April 1979 some 15 years after the concept had been introduced.
Alexandra Park was registered for 50 residents and had two extra beds to cater for residents who became ill and required nursing in the frail section. In January 1982 the Annex was purchased thereby increasing the capacity to 57 residents. The applicants far exceeded the accommodation and so two extra bedrooms, a bathroom, a card room, two lounges, a workshop and store room were added to A block. It was obvious that more frail accommodation was necessary and so the tedious work of getting permission and trying to obtain a loan from the Government started all over again. Finally in January 1993 the construction of the new frail wing was completed This was officially opened by Mrs Emily Fuchs on 8 April 1993.
Today we have this wonderful Home Alexandra Park, which can accommodate 80 aged persons of which just under half can be accommodated in the frail section. An true edifice to those who had the foresight and spirit to establish a much needed facility.