Mandurah honours seniors champion Nell Regan

THE late Nell Regan will be remembered even though the Peel Street, Mandurah hall named in her honour was decommissioned and demolished last year.

Her memory continues through the naming of the dining room at Mandurah Seniors and Community Centre after the champion of Mandurah’s senior citizens who died in 1987.

Mrs Regan arrived in Mandurah in 1964 and her family soon followed.

In those days, the population was around 4000, a block of land cost $10,000 and there was nothing for seniors to do unless they fancied bowling.

Mrs Regan persuaded the Shire of Mandurah to lease an old PCYC building and she later raised funds to build the Nell Regan Hall, the first centre run by seniors for seniors.

As president of Mandurah branch of the Australian Pensioners League, she was the force behind the construction of the hall.

She raised funds through bingo, concerts and card days and sold thousands of toffee apples made in the kitchen of her unit opposite the hall.

Mrs Regan would pack her boot full of toffee apples and set off to sell them around town at 20 cents each.

The hall was a big part of the community since it was built in 1973 and home to theatrical productions, meetings, weddings, receptions and indoor and outdoor markets over the years.

Mrs Regan was 69 when she was awarded the British Empire Medal for her outstanding work and perseverance in helping others.

Her daughter Decima Marshall was Mandurah Shire Council’s first female councillor.