Mulgrave’s newest retirement living community will proudly bear the name of one of Australia’s most respected sportsmen.
Ryman Healthcare announced its ninth Australian retirement village will be named in honour of Sir Hubert Opperman.
Affectionately known as ‘Oppy’, the legendary endurance cyclist joins Weary Dunlop, Nellie Melba, John Flynn, Charles Brownlow, Deborah Cheetham, Raelene Boyle, and Bert Newton in having a Ryman village named after him.
A multi-record breaker and Europe’s most popular sportsman of 1928, Opperman exemplified a life lived remarkably, putting Australian cycling on the map at competitions including the Tour de France, The Paris-Brest-Paris, and Bol D’or.
He first dominated the Australian cycling circuit in 1922, winning the prestigious Launceston to Hobart race before cementing his place in the record books as the only rider to win the Australian national road race title four times (1924, 1926, 1927, 1929).
In 1927, his sheer endurance and strength reached epic heights when he won the Paris-Brest-Paris race in a record 49 hours despite fierce wind and rain. At the time the race was the longest in the world.
Over the next decade he smashed records in races across the world, from the London-Bath-London in 10h 14m 42s to the 2,875-mile transcontinental crossing from Fremantle to Sydney in 13 days, 10 hours and 11 minutes.
In later life Opperman was a highly respected Federal politician, finishing his career as Australia’s first High Commissioner to Malta.
More than 100 people attended the naming launch, which was hosted by by award-winning radio and TV personality Jo Stanley, at Melbourne’s Hotel Chadstone.
Opperman’s daughter-in-law Lorraine Opperman said the family was honoured that Sir Hubert had been recognised by Ryman.
“I know that Oppy would be extremely proud to have this wonderful modern village named in his honour,” she said.
“Oppy could talk to anybody about anything, and he sincerely loved people.
“He came from very humble beginnings, and he had a very wicked sense of humour.”
Ryman Healthcare Australia CEO Cameron Holland said the naming launch marked a significant milestone for the company.
“Revealing the name of the village is a pivotal moment in the commencement of any community across Ryman’s villages,” he said.
“The name becomes the identity of the village, part of the ethos that shapes the way the village functions.
“We named the village in Oppy’s honour because he exemplifies the importance of living a healthy, active life for one’s whole life. And doing what you love for as long as you can – which he certainly did.”
The first residents to move into Hubert Opperman Retirement Village, Helen and Rusty Wilson, said Ryman ticked every box they had.
“My background was aging and disability and I'd seen some great models of care and people taking advantage of that, I also saw some terrible models and people leaving it too late,” Helen said.
“Ryman has everything that we are looking for.”
Hubert Opperman Retirement Village at 62-94 Jacksons Rd, Mulgrave, will offer full continuum of care including independent living villas, independent apartments, assisted living in serviced apartments, home care services, and an residential aged care centre offering low care, high care and specialist dementia care.
It will include a bowling green, café and bar, gym, indoor pool, hair and beauty salon and cinema, among other amenities.
The village will be home to around 330 people when complete. The first residents moved in last week.
Click here to find out more about the village.