It was a full house at the Manjimup Wellness and Respite Community Centre for the official opening on Friday 18 May 2018. Opened by Hon Rick Wilson MP, the long awaited Centre houses the Shire's Home Community Care team and focuses on home care and aged and disability services across the region, as well as respite care.
The Home & Community Care (HACC) program first started in 1987 in the Shires of Boyup Brook, Bridgetown-Greenbushes and Manjimup. This innovative country human service was made possible through a successful grant application by a local community group known as Windmill Farm. The HACC programme was originally designed to support younger people with a disability and elderly people to remain living at home with confidence, security and dignity, to remain an important part of their Community, reduce isolation and to provide in-home respite.
Liz Lockyear, Manager of the Shire of Manjimup's Home Community Care said "As well as providing support through the HACC program (soon to change to the Commonwealth Home Support Program), we have expanded our services to include Commonwealth Home Care Packages and we are a National Disability Insurance Scheme provider. In July we will open our respite rooms and become a cottage respite provider too".
"I acknowledge the beginnings from Windmill Farms who still continue their valuable work by providing independent living homes for people with disabilities, previous managers, many staff and volunteers over the years, and the fabulous team we have now and our clients" added Liz.
In closing Liz thanked the various funding bodies which included National Stronger Regions Fund, LotteryWest, HACC, Shire of Manjimup, Royalties for Regions and WA County Health Service, as well as staff and volunteers who have worked hard to raise money from our generous community. She also thanked many contractors who have worked above and beyond on the project.
Rick Wilson MP, before cutting the ribbon, said "This was always going to be a great project, keeping people living in our towns and communities".
Also speaking at the event was, the Hon Adele Farina MLC, who acknowledged the Shire of Manjimup and the Council for recognising the needs in the community and bringing those needs together in a wonderful facility, and the Hon Terry Redman MLA who said "It is very very important that we plan for and build facilities like this so people can be supported and stay in their homes".
Following the cutting of the ribbon Shire President Paul Omodei closed the official ceremony saying "this has been a great community effort, a great project, and it is a great day for the Manjimup Community".
The ceremony was followed by refreshments and guided tours of the facility.