Thursday, 28 March 2024
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Rotary Centenary House celebrates its 18th birthday

Rotary Centenary House celebrates its 18th birthday

For the past 18 years the local community has come together for a fundraising breakfast to support Rotary Centenary House and, and it?s on today at the Howitt Park Bowls Club.
With breakfast being served from 7am until 10.30am, this event gives the local community an opportunity to support this tremendous community asset.
The fundraising breakfast began some 16 years ago at the home of local Rotarians Rhonda and Noel Wheeldon in Robb Street - just up the hill from the bowls club.
The breakfast was the idea of the local Rotary Inner Wheel group and the first was held two years prior to the opening of Centenary House in 2006.
The concept of Rotary Centenary House was first raised by Kay Radford who was involved in Ronald McDonald House and with the initial plans drawn on a serviette by Rotarian Ken Peake at a meeting of the Churchill Rotary Club the idea moved to become a reality. And the name Rotary Centenary House commemorates the centenary of Rotary.
Rotary Centenary House was opened in September 2006 with the first patients taking up residence within two days.
Since its original venue in the Wheeldon family home the breakfast has been held at a number of venues including the Eastwood Retirement Village, St. John╒s Church and now the Howitt Park Bowls Club.
Rotarian Terry White of the Rotary Club of Mitchell River has the auspicious record of having manned the barbecue at each of the breakfasts since 2004 which is an amazing example of commitment to the community.
Not only does this event raise valuable funds for the facility, it raises the community╒s awareness of this facility and the affordable accommodation it offers to members of our East Gippsland community in their times of need. Approximately 60 per cent of the guests who stay at the facility while undergoing treatment at the Gippsland cancer Care Centre are from East Gippsland which underlines the role that this local breakfast event plays for our local community.
Costs to patients╒ families are kept to a minimum for those living more than a 100 kilometres away with their total out of pocket expenditure being subsidised. The facility provides motel type en-suite rooms with king single beds, room for folding beds and sofa beds, with cooking facilities and eating areas. Arrangements for friends, partners and children to accompany and give support is often available.
Recently, the centre has undergone an expansion and now includes 30 guest rooms. The role of a small staff list is complemented by a team of volunteers who take on a range of maintenance and service roles to ensure a quality of service for those who need the facility.
The Rotary Club of Mitchell River invites members of the East Gippsland community to head along this morning to enjoy a hearty breakfast and support what is a valuable asset to the community.
With the support of local businesses and service groups this event is guaranteed to once again make a positive difference to the lives of many.


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