Rest home questions answered

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 459, 27 October 1992, Page 2

Rest home questions answered

From

nie Waimarino

Rest Home Trust

The Waimarino Rest Home Trust have hired Pro Aro of Palmerston North as the architects for the design of the proposed rest home for Waimarino senior citizens. The Trust Board now

plans to formally approach the various authorities that make available grants for such projects for finance, especially the Lotteries Commission. The trust's treasurer Bill Peach told members at their meeting held 20 October, that over $10,000 had been raised

through local efforts. At least $8000 has been contributed through the shop in Raetihi, which is manned by voluntecrs from Ohakune and Raetihi representing various church and community groups. It is envisaged that Ian Frame will begin work very soon on drainage for the section on Seddon Street, adjacent to St Mary's Church Hall. During the recent meeting a number of questions werc directed to the trust board from members of the community. Thcse the Board will attempt to answer in the following articlc, statcd ihe Revcrcnd Bob Pcck, Chairman. Questio n :Why has there been little or no publicity about the work of Ihe Trust? Answer: Scveral articles have been published in both the Ruapehu Bulletin and the Wanganui Chronicle giving information about the level of local donations, the site chosen by the Trust, the gift of land across the road from the site as well as to inform locals of such events as the Batons-Up evening at the Waimarino Club, which netted $1200 for the Trust. Why do Trust members insist that the Rest Home

be built on Anglican Church property in Raetihi. What about using the 'Waimarino Hospital' which many people expect to be closed soon? The 'Waimarino Hospital' which is now called the 'Waimarino Rural Health Centre' is administered by the Wanganui/Manawatu Area Health Board and currently belongs to that board. Members of the Rest Home Trust are not in a position to comment on the health centre 's future and it must be made very clear that the Rest Home Trust is in no way related to the Wanganui/Manawatu Area Health Board. The Rest Home Trust has no information to suggest that the Health Centre will be closing and at no lime has considcred approaching the board for the use of these facilities for thesc same reasons. Rcgarding the first part of the question; a public meeting held on 4 May 1992 in the Waimarino Club Hall adoptcd resolutions to establish a rest home, clcctcd trustccs and gave the trustees a mandate to go ahead with the sclcction of a site for Ihe home and to thcn build a home. Scveral Raetihi sec-

tions were considered, but in the end, the Seddon Street section offered by the Anglican vestry, at a peppercorn rental, was chosen by the Trust as the most suitable. This is not just an Anglican project, but involves all local churches and is a Waimarino-wide project. Members of the Ohakune community devote voluntary time in the Rest Home Shop, as well as those from the rural area and Raetihi itself. Why all the bother? Our elder ly can be taken care of at the Rural Health Centre on a permanent basis. For two years the public health system in New Zealand has not provided permanent care for most elderly. It is not available at the Rural Health Centre nor at any other public hospital in New Zealand. Therefore, care for the elderly will be either at home or in private rest homes. The Waimarino Rest Home Trust has been set up to initiate building a facility which will be nonprofit and available to all within the Waimarino Community. Trust chairman Bob Peck said other people with questions can contact him through Box 94, Raetihi or ring him on 3854-947.