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Loddon HERALD Vol 5 No 21, THURSDAY MAY 29, 2025 ISSN 2653-1550
RESPECT GIFT PAVES WAY FOR COMMUNITY’S INDEPENDENT LIVING VILLAGE PLAN
HOSTEL DEAL By CHRIS EARL
PYRAMID Hill’s former aged care hostel is back in community ownership. Respect Aged Care has gifted the 24-bed facility to the town’s progress association that wants to convert the complex into independent living accommodation. Talks to secure local ownership started soon after last November’s fifth anniversary of the hostel’s closure and relocation of residents to other towns in central and northern Victoria. Association president Drew Chislett and former president Neville Miller have inked the deal six months later with Respect managing director Jason Binder, ending community uncertainty about the building that started as the town’s hospital in 1959. “The plan is to transform the former hostel into an independent living complex, allowing seniors to maintain their independence while remaining close to family and friends,” Mr Chislett said. Progress association were told at their meeting last night that they officially receive the keys on July 1. Ahead of the announcement, Trevor McIntosh raised the Australian flag outside the Durham Ox Road buildings where former bush nursing hospital board chairman Ian Bartels has acted as unofficial caretaker of surrounds since the November 2019 closure Respect opened the door to community discussions in November when contacted by the Loddon Herald. “We’d appreciate it if there are community mem-
Trevor McIntosh raises the Australian flag outside the former aged care hostel to signify its return to the community bers who want to take over the building, that they’d just ask us ... at the end of the day, we just want it to go to a good use and I’m more than happy to engage in constructive and respectful dialogue around a transfer to a community organisation,” Mr Binder said at the time. This week, Mr Binder was enthusiastic for the progress association plans to create independent living units. “As one of Australia’s
largest regional aged care providers, we know that creating communities of belonging goes hand in hand with strengthening local care services,” he said. “That’s why we fully support the vision of the Pyramid Hill Progress Association to ensure locals, now and in the future, can continue to live in the same community that they have long called home. We believe that this facility can serve as a vital resource
for Pyramid Hill, providing locals with a place to live as well as a supportive environment where they can thrive and enjoy happy and fulfilled lives.” Mr Chislett said the community would “shape the vision for the facility which may also include short-stay accommodation options to meet needs of visitors and workers to the area.
Victorian Farmers’ Federation Wedderburn branch president Chris Holt makes his point in Melbourne last week. LH PHOTO
Repeal this despicable tax: shire LODDON Shire Council wants Victoria’s 79 municipalities to refuse to collect the State Government’s emergency services tax. Councillors who last week stood with hundreds of Loddon residents at the Scrap the Tax rally in Melbourne will also ask Governor Margaret Gardner to use reserve powers and not sign the Government’s new law. Cr Miki Wilson told Tuesday’s council meeting the Government must repeal its “despicable tax”. She said the tax the Allan Government’s response to its own crisis of financial mismanagement was not supported in local communities. Cr David Weaver said that never in the history of Victoria had a “government bitten a hand so hard” while Cr Nick Angelo described the tax as unAustralian. “We must do whatever we can to oppose it,” said Cr Weaver. Veteran councillor Gavan Holt said he had never seen Loddon people so upset about a tax he called unfair and inequitable.
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