Dr Don Moss
Sister Clare and Sister Luke.
Marg and Kath Squires
Tom - the youngest volunteer at Nazareth House
Patron Gerard FitzGerald
Ann Campbell
Ken Matthews
Lyn Bird and Lucy the Delta Dog
Men's Shed
Sister Faustina and Sister Marie
Ladies Auxiliary Members Mavis Maher and Beverly Waller
Official launch of the Nazareth House Care Appeal
NAZARETH House yesterday launched its $10 million “Building for the Future” appeal with a $100,000 Ballarat Foundation donation.
The appeal will fund stage one of the Mill Street aged care facility’s expansion, including 34 beds with en suites which is already under way and should be finished by next September.
It will replace existing 1960s accommodation which is no longer suitable due to the size of its passageways, rooms and bathrooms.
Stage two includes 51 beds with en suites, new hairdressing salon, shop and cafe with wireless internet, tables and chairs, four administration offices and ground floor chapel.
Once completed by builders SJ Weir, the state-of-the-art facility will have 85 beds in total, with a dementia-specific accommodation area.
Appeal chairman Dr Don Moss said Nazareth House needed community support to get the project completed.
“It’s a huge amount of money, it’s more than any one institution can fund,” Dr Moss said.
“It’s up to us as a community to support it. We’re building for the future and it could be our future.”
Dr Moss also said he hoped the Ballarat Foundation’s generous donation would inspire local businesses, community groups, families and individuals to donate.
“It is a vote of confidence in the project and in the high standard of care that Nazareth House has delivered to successive generations of aged residents in Ballarat.
“The Ballarat community has always provided generous support to worthwhile causes. In fact, the original Nazareth House was established in 1888 and was built brick-by-brick by the sisters with incredible support from the local community.”
Dr Moss said $1.5 million had already been raised from trusts, bequests and individual donors.
“As a community we need to plan ahead to ensure that the needs of our elderly, who can no longer remain at home, can be met.
All donations over $2 are tax deductible, the appeal will be independently audited and there are opportunities for naming rights and the installation of plaques within the new buildings and its gardens.
fiona.henderson@thecourier.com.au
