Kim Ladner holding Kyson Ladner (Delacombe), former premier Joan Kirner, Brenda Jewell (Ballarat) and Delacombe Community House co-ordinator Cathy Thomas.
FORMER Victorian premier Joan Kirner has added her voice to calls to save the Delacombe Community House, calling for an informed discussion with all parties.
Mrs Kirner visited the house yesterday as part of celebrations for the Biggest Morning Tea, raising money for cancer research.
“I think the services this house provides are the kinds of services this community needs very much,” she said.
“The shape of how those services are provided probably needs working through, and I just hope people don’t fight about it and co-operate
“So the department, the house, residents and the local council come together and sort it out.”
Mrs Kirner, a former teacher at Ballarat Girls’ Technical College, said she was pleased to be back in the city and held many strong memories of life in the region.
Staff and volunteers at the community house are fighting to maintain programs and services after the property was listed for sale with a real estate agent this week.
Established with $300,000 funding from the Victorian government, the organisation recently ended an auspice agreement with Child and Family Services Ballarat and became independently incorporated.
Changes in funding arrangements from DHS have also threatened the organisation’s co-ordinator position, meaning that programs may have to cease after June 30.
Community house co-ordinator Cath Thomas said cancer research was an important cause for members of the organisation.
“One of our own committee members is a cancer survivor so we have been doing it for a few years now because we believe in the cause,” Mrs Thomas said.