AFTER 11 years of planning, fundraising, and countless hours of work put in by an army of volunteers, those behind Ronald McDonald House Orange celebrated its official opening on Friday.
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About 200 people gathered to celebrate the opening, six months after the house welcomed its first family on April 13.
The facility, which offers accommodation to families with seriously ill children being treated at Orange hospital, has already helped more than 40 families from across western NSW and is expected to assist hundreds more in the future.
Ronald McDonald House Orange chair Joanne Lewis thanked the long list of supporters who helped build the facility, from schools, to service organisations like the Rotary Club of Orange Daybreak, the bricklayers who donated time and materials, the various companies who donated funds and equipment and the scores of volunteers who made it all work.
“It cost around $5 million to build, it was mostly raised in the community, with a $1.2 million grant from the Ronald McDonald House Charities,” Mrs Lewis said.
“Orange is such a giving city, they really get behind anything.”
She said the house’s volunteers had looked after families from all over western NSW, with mental health the fastest growing area for families staying at Ronald McDonald House Orange.
“Of those with child and adolescent mental health issues in the state, 86 per cent come to Orange. That’s why we need this house,” she said.
Volunteer Jane Fairgrieve and her husband Bill were at the event. They volunteer at the house once a week, helping with housekeeping duties and odd jobs.
Mrs Fairgrieve said they wanted to help after staying at Ronald McDonald House in Westmead 20 years ago, when their daughter had facial surgery for a bad birthmark at Westmead Children’s Hospital at the age of 11.
“It was amazing, people were just so kind, we knew food was there, we had access to all the facilities, so we could spend all our time at the hospital not having to worry about what to do for lunch or dinner,” Mrs Fairgrieve said.
“We wanted to do something to give back to those who helped us.”
Ronald McDonald House Charities Australia chief executive officer Malcolm Coutts said Orange’s house was a “first class” facility and paid tribute to the tireless work of Mrs Lewis and husband Geoff Lewis, who began the push for the facility 11 years ago.
“I want to recognise Joanne and Geoff Lewis on behalf of the board, for without their unwavering support, this could not have happened,” Mr Coutts said.
