1972
29 March 1972
(Artist’s sketch)
This is an Architect’s view of the courtyard of some of the units of the retirement village being considered by Mudgee’s Presbyterian Church. The village will comprise 29 single units and a community centre for old folk.
They would be built on church land at the rear of St. Paul’s with entrance from Mortimer Street.
The architects are D. Trevor Jones and Associates of Bathurst.
This sketch shows units grouped landscaped with trees and shrubs and incorporating earth banks about three feel high with shrubs on top.
The units are expected to require a founder donation of between $4,000 and $6, 000 each1
.
2001
13 August 2001
Kanandah hostel sold
Kanandah, Mudgee's community built retirement hostel, has been sold to Southern Cross Homes (NSW) Inc.
Kanandah residents were told of the sale at a meeting of residents and their families on Monday morning, August 13.
The media was not allowed to attend the closed meeting for Kanandah residents and their families only.
Spokesperson for Kanandah residents, Betty Jackson, said she did not know how the residents felt about the sale and did not want to speak about it at this stage.
Kanandah management issued an official press release which began:
"After several months of detailed investigations and meetings with a number of leading providers of aged care, the Board of Kanandah Retirement Village has determined that the organisation should become part of Southern Cross Homes (NSW) Inc., who like Kanandah are a community run non profit organisation."
Deputy Chairman of the Kanandah Board, Mike Kearins, said the future viability of Kanandah was in question because of government requirements and demands from older consumers, combined with reducing government support.
Mr Kearins said reducing subsidies and increasing costs had added to the financial pressure the volunteer board was facing.
He said new legislation and government reform, especially building certification and accreditation, placed very real pressure on volunteer organisations, especially as no funds were available.
Mr Kearins also cited the recent approval of 20 additional hostel places, at a cost of $2million, as adding to Kanandah's plight.
"Given that we did not believe that we could continue to ensure quality services and ongoing viability as a small stand alone aged care facility, we were looking for a lead agency which best matched the way we do things at Kanandah and one which shared the philosophies which underpin our care programs," Mr Kearins said.
"We have found such an organisation in Southern Cross Homes, which operates 21 facilities across NSW with seven of them being out of Sydney including the major village, hostel and community care program in Parkes," he said.
"They are very strong financially and do business in a way very similar to us, and better still, our residents will receive priority," he said.
Southern Cross Homes CEO, John Ireland said, "Unfortunately, the days of local communities operating relatively small facilities on a volunteer basis are numbered.
"We are very excited and are committed as an organisation to not only maintaining but also further enhancing the great services provided by Kanandah..." he said2 .