Friends of the Old Bega Hospital Newsletter 27 July 2023

Dear Friends of the Old Bega Hospital

Restoration progress

Local builder Leser Build has started work on stage 1 of the restoration. That will get us a complete roof and essential services - electricity, stormwater, fire hydrants, sewerage. When the stage 1 work is completed about this time next year, about 45% of the building will be occupiable, including the Men's Ward, a community kitchen, a gift shop/office, a meeting room and some of the verandahs. The Reserve Land Manager continues to look for funding so we can do stage 2 and return the whole building to the community.

See the Plan for details and an overview.

To the end of July:

Next up:

Lots of little decisions are required. As one example, how to match the mortar used to repair missing pointing between bricks: whether all lime or a mix of lime and cement?; if it is all lime, is it strong enough?; if cement, what colour cement (grey, white, off white?); what colour and grade of sand?; do you try to match the new to the existing now, or do you want it to match in a few years when it has weathered a little?; and how do you account for the different colours and textures in different parts of the existing mortar – different ages, different exposure to the weather, different lighting? How far do you go, how much are you prepared to spend in search of perfection! The builders made up 9 different samples for us and the architects to try.

Friends of the OBH Events Committee

Meanwhile, the Events Committee has been busy making preparations for our major annual events: Raffles, Trivia Night, Spring Raise the Roof Fair as well as taking any opportunity it can to promote the restoration.

The Friends of the Old Bega Hospital Bega Street Stall is running again on the sunny side of Carp St outside Sportspower (near the Post Office). Call by on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10.00am to 1.30pm to have a chat and check out the latest in OBH branded merchandise: T Shirts (new stock arriving any day); our strong linen T Towels; and our limited edition, Bendigo Bank sponsored, 'Put it Back Together Again' Jigsaw, featuring a bird's eye view (provided by photographer Cliff Shipton) of the ravaged OBH Regional Community Cultural Centre taken on the day of our 2022 Raise the Roof Spring Fair. T-Shirts and T-Towels are $20. The Jigsaws come either in a strong rectangular cardboard box for $30 or cylindrical tin for $35. All the merchandise makes great presents! And the money raised will be going towards equipping and furnishing the community areas of our restored OBH. 

At the moment we can only take cash for purchases - but the stall is right near a Bendigo Bank hole in the wall! 

And that's not all. Our Street Stall is also selling tickets in Friends new Winter to Spring $2 raffle (poster). Once again our raffle is supported by the Bega business community with Bega Barbeques Galore donating the first prize - a voucher worth $250; second, third and fourth prizes are Barbeques Galore vouchers worth $125, $75 and $50 respectively. One ticket will set you back $2; three tickets - $5; and 8 tickets - $10.  The raffle will be drawn at Friends 2023 Raise the Roof Spring Fair which will be held on the last Sunday in October: this year that's October 29. Make sure you mark that date on your calendar. Friends are working on a great lineup for our annual Spring Fair. Leser Build will be on site to answer any questions you may have about the restoration.

The next monthly meeting of the Friends Events Committee will be held in the OBH precinct Nurses' Quarters at 10:30am on Monday 31 July. Any and every one interested in helping the committee to promote the OBH will be most welcome. Please register with Val at froglittle@bigpond.com so she can keep you advised of arrangements.

With best wishes

Richard Bomford

President
Friends of the Old Bega Hospital Inc

                             

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