AS Ronald McDonald House in Orange nears completion, the facility has also become a legacy for Australian manufacturing.
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Yesterday, the Canobolas Cottage community board acknowledged Electrolux, which has donated about $200,000 worth of major and smaller household appliances to the facility’s three stages.
Appliances include some of the last refrigerators to be made in Orange, as well as washing machines, dryers, irons, stove tops, rangehoods, ovens, microwaves, airconditioners, kettles, coffee machines and toasters for families staying at the facility while their children are treated in hospital.
Canobolas Cottage board chair Joanne Lewis said the company’s in-kind support and donations were crucial.
“Without what they’ve done, we would never have gotten to this point,” she said.
“We will be able to give [families] the basics of life.”
Electrolux pledged the donation before it announced the closure of the Edward Street refrigeration plant in Orange. The plant’s general manger, Mark O’Kane, said the house would be part of its legacy.
“It’s unfortunate the plant is to close, however ... there will always be a little bit of the Orange plant here,” he said.
The first stage is about three weeks away from furnishing, including the communal areas and the first eight rooms.
Mrs Lewis said board members would sleep in each of the rooms to check their functionality.
“They’ll sort out the bed squeaks so families are not the guinea pigs,” she said.
Electrolux has also donated $40,000 worth of appliances as raffle and lucky door prizes for the Great Gatsby-themed ball on Saturday, September 6.
Proceeds from the ball will also go to Ronald McDonald House.
Tickets are available from WIN Television in Orange.
To donate to the remaining 12 rooms, call Mrs Lewis on 0419 610 002.
danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au