A great library legacy for the future
I write in support of the library/civic hall concept. Why do I write this letter? It was Mother's Day on Sunday and as the Barnardos Victorian Mother of the Year, I believe one of the greatest gifts we can give our children, is the love of books, story-telling, and the love of learning which complements the education system.
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My own mother gave me that gift; one I hope I have passed onto my children and grandchildren. This love of reading has carried on through my 71 years and I delight on the book club I attend at the library every 3rd Wednesday of the month. I belong to the Grandmothers Against the Detention of Refugee Children. For our group, the Ballarat Library has served as a meeting place, a lecture site, a theatrette, IT education, and an information hub. It is fantastic but it is often really crowded and somewhat noisy with all sorts of activities taking place in the same place.
Having visited the new expansive Geelong library recently, I have seen what we could have. Ballarat deserves it! Yes, the old civic centre does conjure up nostalgic memories of when I attended school in Ballarat the early 1960s, but changes and renovations can renew our lives and our spirit. We need a gathering place, and an expanded library and a civic centre we can be proud of in the heart of the City of Ballarat. Our old historical buildings as a result of the gold rush era are what we are proud of. I have memorabilia of my great grandparents in horse and buggy in Sturt St.
Now let us build a modern state of the art library and Civic Centre for the next generation to enjoy.
Pauline McKenzie, Scotsburn
U3A: a growing demand
Congratulations to the U3A for the superb work it is doing in Ballarat. The rapid growth of the organisation demonstrates it is meeting the needs of a large number of citizens who are keen to be active in mind and body. Quite clearly, the U3A needs a purpose-built educational facility to meet the growing needs of their near to 1000 members. They need general classrooms, art rooms, practical rooms for woodwork and metalwork classes, rooms for music, drama and performances, rooms set up with computer facilities, and especially rooms for cooking lessons. A lecture room for larger gatherings, safe off-street parking, a lift for access and a cafe-style area. Ideally, this should all be set in a beautiful historic building members could enjoy using and sharing with the wider Ballarat community. Just a dream. If only such a space was available in Ballarat.
What are the plans for the senior campus of Ballarat Secondary School in Barkly Street when it closes? Let's hope these superb facilities are not allowed to remain empty and unused for years and years as has occurred to other Ballarat facilities. We have some positive examples of educational buildings making a transition to a new and vibrant life in Ballarat. Urquhart Street Primary School into BRACE, Ballarat North Technical School site was transformed, into the Ballarat Specialist School. Let's do it a third time. The senior campus could be a Campus for Seniors.
Doug Bradby, Buninyong
Seniors hit by budget
Some might think it was a clever Federal budget, but I was disgusted to read there was a cut to the aged-care budget over the next 4 years of $1.2 billion meaning many old people won't get the appropriate care, e.g. a person with Parkinsons disease in care at the moment will receive an extra $66 to support their requirements, but with the cuts in the Federal budget this year, the same person with Parkinsons will only receive $16 for support per day. I believe any government in power should look after the elderly folk in care in their twilight years as they have paid taxes all their life, and it's rather sad the Federal government has chosen to cut funding to aged care in this year's budget.
Geoff Rundell, Ballarat