Friends of the Old Bega Hospital Newsletter 25 September 2024

Dear Friends of the Old Bega Hospital

Welcome to another Friends’ newsletter with updates on goings on at the Old Bega Hospital.

Restoration

The restoration continues well. We’ve been gradually tailoring extra work to the remaining funds available, with the latest being that we have enough funds to finish restoration of the remaining exterior doors and windows. That, though excellent, meant that the completion date was extended by 8 weeks, and is now mid October.

We will still need to get an occupation certificate before we can move in, and for that we depend on Council to tick off on roadwork we are required to complete in Corkhill Place as a condition of development consent. Council has finally approved the design of the work and we are now waiting for it to set a date for an on site meeting, which Council requires before road works can start. Once the work is done, we then need to wait for Council to tick the box to say the work done is in accordance with the design. There seem to be long delays at each step.

The precinct is open 24/7 and you are welcome to have a look in from the outside. Please do not go inside the security fence at any time – it is a construction site and access is restricted. If you do a circuit in the evening some of the lights may be on.

Friends Committee

A casual vacancy on the Friends committee was filled at the last meeting, when the committee was pleased to add Julee Jeramiah to its ranks.

Friends AGM

The Friends annual general meeting will be held on Tuesday 12 November at 1pm at the Old Bega Hospital. Re-opening of the main building will be a major change for the work of the Friends, with the focus changing from building a building to building a community. I will be retiring from the Friends President role to let someone else take the committee in new directions.

Reserve Land Manager

There will be a new Reserve Land Manager board from December too. The RLM is appointed by the Crown Lands Minister to run the OBH day to day on behalf of Crown Lands. The current board members’ appointments expire in December, and several have not applied for renewal. The focus of the RLM will also change as the building and new tenants and users settle in – but applying for and managing grants is likely to continue so that restoration of the three remaining rooms at the eastern end of the main building can be completed.

The RLM has also started a process to develop and implement a landscape plan for the precinct. Involves gardens, paths, borders, nooks and sitting walls, as well as birds, bees, trees and shrubs.

Friends’ shopping list for the new building

The Friends have started a shopping list for the communal areas of the main building. Dining chairs, work tables, knives, forks, saucepans, serviettes, filing cabinets and much more. If you are a keen bargain shopper – on-line, in op shops, at tip shops or anywhere really – or have friends that love that sort of thing, let us know and we can give you a list! Or if you know someone who’s renovating or closing down and might have some good stuff to give away – e.g. a café load of crockery – let us know that too. We have very limited storage for bigger items, so the sky is not the limit.

Raise the Roof: 27 October 2024

Our Raise the Roof Spring Fair will be on again this year, and give you the chance to admire the building. We would like to let you in, but unless we have an occupation certificate by then we won’t be able to, not least because it will still officially be a construction site and our insurance won’t cover it. All the usual attractions for the Fair are being lined up, and it should be bigger than ever. Yes, we do have a roof, but we are keeping the name. Proceeds from the Fair will help to fund the shopping list. Save the date: 27 October, 10am to 2pm.

Friends will be running its $5.00 Local Business House raffle at Raise the Roof - tickets only sold on the day and raffle drawn at the end of the Fair. You don't have to be at the Fair when raffle drawn - we will contact you if you are a prize winner and make arrangement for you collect your winnings. If anyone can help out with a prize donation that would be great. Also donations of baking appreciated for Friends Giant Cake and Morning Tea stall. Any enquiries email Val, froglittle@bigpond.com.

New tenants?

If you’d like to become a tenant in the restored building, or just hire a room sometimes, or bring your food van into the precinct, let us know: reservelandmanager@obh.org.au. The Reserve Land Manager is developing a new management strategy for the precinct and it would be good to get an indication of the range of possible interests.

Pavers

The engraved pavers have been installed in the new pathways. Come out to have a look.

What else?

All sorts of activities already happen at the Old Bega Hospital, and there’s plenty of scope to join in.

Regards

Richard Bomford

President (for now)
Friends of the Old Bega Hospital Inc

   

Find us at www.obh.org.au and https://www.facebook.com/FriendsoftheOldBegaHospital/.

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