Old Bega Hospital Reserve Land Manager

Chair's Report to OBH Reserve Land Manager AGM 12 December2023

Last year ended with the Project Manager for the Land Manager organising the tender for the restoration to be completed at the end of January. As land managers we viewed the process with some trepidation given the wide media coverage of construction equipment in particular rapidly increasing in price. Our fears were realised as none of the tenders came anywhere close to our funding. There were no local bids. So began a process of reducing the scope of the project (and getting funding body permission) to proceed with a second round in which local firms which had shown interest at the initial briefing stage were encouraged to apply.

While this was happening we were somewhat cheered by the arrival on site of a local firm, Hoylands, constructing a new hardwood floor on the Nurses' Quarters veranda. They were a very cheerful and hard working bunch and we were very pleased with the outcome of a Crown Reserve Improvement Fund grant. We were walking on this new structure on 29 April when Richard was finally able to make a public announcement of the successful result of the second tendering process: Leser Build, a local firm. Actually, April 19 will always remain a RED LETTER DAY for we 7 land managers on the day the Project Manager revealed their decision, still confidential for another 10 days. Preliminary arrangements began at once and by the end of June, OBH was a construction site.

We were also able to (finally as this has been on our wish list for a long time) renovate the kitchenette area of the front room of the Nurses Quarters (another CRIF grant), replace all the external doors and paint the external area. As it turned out one of the major heritage paint colours was one we later chose for the Main Building; however, for reasons unknown it was no longer available. Talking of colours, the Land Managers chose to use the same colour scheme (as much as possible) for all the site buildings. Deciding on the colour scheme was a challenge and involved some robust discussion! How well we succeeded will be revealed in 2024 when this restoration is complete.

All the work completed and planned would not have been possible without a lot of background work in terms of the Land Manager being alert to funding possibilities, proceeding with a detailed plan ( very much with Richard putting our concept into words and John with the figures); and then waiting for a rewarding outcome. Richar4 as our chosen representative to work closely with the Project Manager (Public Works), the architectural firm, Design 5 and Bega Valley Shire Council staff, has been exceedingly active as the conduit sending messages back and forth - their queries, statements of rules, requirements and recommendations, our queries, deliberations and decisions. We knew from the start that this was 2 major undertaking, how major and how many myriad details need consideration and decisions we have found out. Now that Leser Build fie on site, they add to the task. I can report that we have all worked as a team committed to this project and keen to see it finished and open and operating for the benefit of the community. It has not been all plain sailing but we are pleased with the progress. The weather has also been on our side most of the time (until recently). We finish this year with full expectations of being on time and completing the (reduced) project by June 2024.I want to thank Richard for his extended labours but John, too, for keeping close tabs on the invoices and formal reports built into the funding program. We are indebted to them.

Thanks to John for handling the issue of negotiating a further long term licence for the Bega Men’s Shed although it is clear that the transfer of the administration of OBH from the Nowra Crown Lands authority to the Goulburn Crown Lands authority (but perhaps not the records or records being read that far back) has created some misunderstanding. We anticipate a successful outcome and a very long term relationship with the BMS as a result.

The Friends committee and Events sub-committee have also strongly contributed to progress with fundraising events such as the Trivia Night, regular raffles and culminating in the Raise the Roof Spring Festival on29 October - a relief after the Covid years. The crowd came to discover how much the restoration had advanced and to join in the celebration of that. The weather was cooperative. It was a very happy event. Thanks to all who contributed and all who just came to look. The Events Committee members - Val, Gordon, Kay, Claire and John - did a great job planning and doing on the day, promoting, selling, problem solving. Leser Build developed a great exhibition so people could see what has been done to date and what is to come. Gordon's promotional skills were in full view with previous ideas such as the jigsaw, t-shirts and tea towels on sale. John began promoting the Paver Project and selling pavers to community members. This will continue into the early months of next year until the paths are ready to be laid.

Many thanks to Richard and John for the many hours of effort involved in preparing reports each month on the restoration progress to the funding bodies and to us; and handling the variation reports as well. A very big job done exceptionally well by volunteers. And to the rest of the LM for keeping track and responding to requests for comments. I thank Eric for stepping into the breach when I was unable to attend meetings. It is appropriate here to mention that I was honoured at the BVSC Australia Day ceremony with a Community Service medal. I do not view that as a personal honour but as a representative of a series of voluntary community committees which have laboured long and mightily to achieve this restoration goal. And thanks to D5 our architectural firm (and Lian in particular) for the conscientious attention to detail, to Public Works - Graeme in David's absence and Mel as the principal contact handling the tender process translating into active administration and negotiation with BVSC and other bodies, to BVSC for effective responses to (most - we haven't always seen eye to eye) of our issues and now Leser Build and staff or their commitment to a project which the Land Manager has worked on for 19 years to bring to fruition. Thanks to both our state and federal members and their staff for interest, relevant information and practical aid.

One of the strengths of this restoration project has been the community interest and support - of great impact at times when our efforts seemed not to be as effective as we might have wished. OBH is deeply entrenched in the Bega Valley community in memories of many older citizens who were born there or spent time as patients while it operated as the local medical facility. OBH serves as a source of work in the community for Community Service Order participants. Several of the current Land Managers are qualified as supervisors of local community members who have been before the courts and received Community Service Order sentences. Most of the people who have served their time at OBH have thrown themselves with great skill. energy and enthusiasm into the work they were assigned to do. And were grateful to not be incarcerated and able to get on with their normal lives except for the time they were required to spend in community service. One recent example of a successful partnership was when a participant observed the problem of our metal letterbox being damaged by careless drivers. He used his bricklaying skills to construct a studier one. A great outcome; the Land Manager was most appreciative and wrote a formal letter of thanks - suitable as a reference for future jobs.

The current restoration project will continue into 2024 but will not complete the whole building. So there is still more dreaming, planning and action ahead. The Land Manager has applied for 2 items to the Crown Reserve Improvement Fund namely a new shed for all the mowing and gardening maintenance equipment and an upgraded ride on mower and also for the shed via the Club Grants Fund.

The current Land Manager board members will finish their 5 year appointment next December. Crown Lands will be seeking new applicants in the second half of the year. I will be stepping down then - and perhaps others - but there is scope for others to come forward and offer their time, skills and energy to a very worthwhile community asset.

 

Pat Jones
Chairperson
11 December2023