George Kensit and Irene (Rene) Roberts were born in Colchester (1910) and London (1912), respectively. They married in wartime England in 1944 and in 1949 travelled by sea to start a new life in Australia.
In 1951 their only child, Sue, was born and over the years they lived in Ashburton and Burwood. George was extremely intelligent, an actuary and head of a large Insurance Company and a talented sportsman whilst Rene was a keen gardener, brilliant cook and devoted mother.
They enjoyed becoming parents-in-law to Graeme and grandparents to Lisa & Glen. Rene moved into the Nursing Home at Strathdon in May 1992 suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease and George followed into an independent living unit in July of the same year and later into the Hostel. They both spent their last years well looked after in the caring and friendly environment that is Strathdon, Rene passing away in November 1999 and George 7 months later in June 2000.
With no other relatives on George’s side of the family, this lounge is named with gratitude to Strathdon, to honour and perpetuate the Kensit family name and is dedicated to the memory of George and Rene Kensit.