FOR decades, there has been a critical shortage of accommodation for families attending Orange Base Hospital with a sick or injured child, but that will soon change with the unveiling of Ronald McDonald House later this year.
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Construction of the house, which will accommodate eight families at once, will be ready to receive its first guests come December.
Ongoing fundraising will contribute to the house being extended to accommodate 20 families, or 120 people.
While the Orange Base Hospital admits an average of 1300 children per year, 60 per cent are from outside the Orange postcode, said Orange Ronald McDonald House events committee vice chairperson Rebecca Walsh.
She said families stretching from Bathurst to Bourke would benefit from the accommodation.
“The Orange hospital is one of the major referral hospitals
in NSW and as its role in health care has grown in the past 18 months, so too has the need for accommodation to support the families of sick children,” Ms Walsh said.
“Because of the improved medical infrastructure here, families do not necessarily need to go to Sydney for treatment anymore which is excellent, but we’ve heard of families living in less than ideal circumstances when here because the accommodation is just not available.”
The building, which will move into its fit-out stage in the coming weeks, is set adjacent to the hospital for maximum ease for families with sick children.
“The site is beautiful and is surrounded by playing fields, a golf course, a swimming pool and has a canopy of established trees that attract many native species of birds and animals. The house has been designed around the trees,” Ms Walsh said.
The Ronald McDonald House Orange Fundraising Committee was established in 2005 and has since raised $2 million through fundraising efforts.
It has also received a further $2.05 million of pledged goods.
“This project is totally a community project and has given a great sense of ownership to everybody who has contributed to this point,” Ms Walsh said.
Community groups from the Central West have also rallied around the initiative.
“We have had some local people hand-making quilts for every single bed in the house, we have had the local Vietnam Vets doing the Bunning’s barbecue for us, and the Oberon community has put on a harness racing night for us for the past four years,” Ms Walsh said.
“Electrolux have also generously agreed to provide the appliances to fit-out the house and assist with fundraising efforts, and this is only to name few of the many wonderful contributions made by community groups, towns, businesses and individuals.
“With thanks to the community Ronald McDonald House Orange will not just be a house – it will be a home away from home for the families with seriously ill children from country NSW.
“We all look forward to welcoming our first family.”
In order to complete the building, and extend it as planned, the committee needs to raise another $1.2 million.
To donate, or for more information, contact Rebecca Walsh on 0418 681 352 or Kylie Lewis on 0419 610 004.
