The Lions Club of Albany first established the community care centre in 1987.  Today, Albany Lions Community Care Centre provides a service to over 600 clients, 6 days a week with a team of 32 staff and volunteers.

 

In 2007, the Great Southern Development Commission and Western Australian Community Foundation collaborated to establish a Challenge Grant Program to support philanthropy in the region.  The proactive Albany Lions Community Care Centre raised $10,500 through a range of fundraising activities, which was matched dollar-for-dollar by the Great Southern Development Commission to boost their deposit to establish a donation fund with Western Australian Community Foundation.

 

The Albany Lions Community Care Centre sustainable fund, under the Trusteeship of Western Australian Community Foundation, will help address the increasing need to offer flexible respite options to carers and self-carers in the Albany region.

 

Over the last nine months, staff and volunteers have been actively raising funds to enable a purpose built facility to be developed at the centre’s current premises on Hardie Road in Albany.  Once complete, the facility will support carers, and those being cared for, in Albany and the surrounding community.  To date, the project has received support from Lotterywest, local businesses and service clubs through financial and in-kind donations, forming a current fundraising balance of A$380,000.

 

With a target of A$500,000, the group is well over half way to reaching its goal.

 

 

 

The Albany Lions Community Care Centre was the lucky recipient of a $5,000 door prize donation from the RAC, drawn during Western Australian Community Foundation’s 2007 Summit.

 

“The RAC’s donation is a much needed boost to the start of our fundraising efforts towards the construction and maintenance a new state-of-the-art respite care facility for the Albany community,” said Ron Brown of the Albany Lions Community Care Centre.

 

RAC Manager Community Services Craig McKemmish said the donation was part of the RAC’s commitment to help build stronger communities throughout Western Australia.

 

“The RAC’s vision is to go the extra mile for its members and to play an essential role in their lives and in the Western Australian Community,” said Mr McKemmish.

 

“The organisation does this by putting its members first, and by supporting the communities they live in.  Western Australian Community Foundation provides communities with the opportunity to establish long-term sustainability – a goal that is shared by the RAC.  It therefore gives us great pleasure to support the Albany Lions by contributing towards the new community care centre.”

 

Tonia Swetman, Western Australian Community Foundation Chief Executive Officer added that “the Foundation is very grateful for RAC’s support of our communities and we are delighted that the wonderful work of Albany Lions is further supported through this donation”.

 

 

 

For more information about the Albany Lions Community Care Centre please contact Colleen Tombleson on ph (08) 9841 8668.