WARRNAMBOOL ROTARY HOUSE OPENS FOR BUSINESS
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( Dan Tehan, Andrew Suggett, Denis Napthine, Chris Logan)
On Friday the 22nd November the Premier of Victoria, Dr Denise Napthine and the local Federal member, Dan Tehan, officiated at the Rotary House Warrnambool opening and transfer to South West Healthcare. A letter of congratulations, to both Rotary and the local community, from the Prime Minister Tony Abbot was read out to the 250 people attending the ceremony.
In 2005 South West Healthcare, the major public Hospital for the district located in Warrnambool, provided in principle support for a Rotary House. The hospital also agreed to provide land for the project preferably, within the hospital precinct. The responsibility of Rotary was to fund and build the facility. On completion of the building the facility would be transferred to South West Healthcare to manage the facility.
The planning and building of Rotary House Warrnambool brought together the four Rotary Clubs of Warrnambool being Warrnambool, East, Daybreak and Central. A management committee involving the four clubs commenced planning the project in July 2009.
A final budget of $1.6 million was projected, excluding the value of the site provided by South West Healthcare opposite the public hospital in Warrnambool. Funds were sought from the entire Southwest region given the facility would be used by those who, in the main, did not live in close proximity to Warrnambool. Rotary House Warrnambool is located in the City of Warrnambool but was being built to service those outside of Warrnambool.
Fundraising required the support of clubs and communities across Southwest Victoria. In addition to the four Warrnambool Rotary Clubs the committee focused its community fundraising through the Rotary Clubs of Portland, Portland Bay, Port Fairy, Cobden, Camperdown, Hamilton, Hamilton North, Mortlake and Terang. The local clubs where asked to involve their communities to raise funds for their community’s Rotary House. Support has been provided by local trusts and foundations, Local, State and Federal Governments, business, public donations and Rotary Clubs across the Western District.
The building of Rotary House Warrnambool utilising Donations In Kind from local businesses and many smaller donations from the public has consolidated the community ownership of the facility. The opening of the facility was both a proud moment for the community and Rotary.