Surplus medical equipment, furniture and supplies from the former Mater aged care facility have been donated to Aboriginal community health centres and families in the region.
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The Mater Aged Care closed earlier this year and all residents were relocated to the newly refurbished Jemalong Residential Village.
Now the obsolete equipment from the old site has been repurposed, thanks to a partnership between Catholic Health Care and non-government organisation Para Marcia.
It's described as a big win for all parties involved, providing an alternative use for quality equipment and furniture which may have ended up in landfill.
"It's great to see the surplus equipment from Catholic Healthcare's Mater Aged Care facility in Forbes has now found a new home with local community groups Para Marcia, the Wiradjuri Condobolin Corporation and Ngunnawal Aboriginal Corporation," Evelyn Quade, Residential Manager of Jemalong Residential Village, said.
The WCC has already distributed donated goods within the Condobolin community. Recipients included Yawarra, a service for Aboriginal people living with a disability.
Ally Coe said it lifted recipients' spirits to know people thought of them, and provided valuable and beautiful, very useful essentials.
"(Yawarra) have five full-time clients living with a disability who were extremely excited and grateful to have received new furniture and equipment for their building," she said.
"Others include our Elders who have done and accomplished so much for their families and their community and are now facing loss of their mobility and independence.
"It was a great experience to be able to drop mobility equipment, recliners, sofas and so on and have them smile and welcome the help with open arms.
"We would like to extend a huge thank you to Mater, and all involved."
Para Marcia has been very active in recent years running similar projects working with NSW Health providers and Southern Cross Care in Parkes in sending 40ft containers of similar redundant yet good quality medical supplies and furniture to Timor Leste.
"We greatly appreciated the opportunity to work with another major Health Care Provider and to especially bring benefits to our local Aboriginal communities," Bill Shallvey from Para Marcia and the Parkes Rotary Club said.
"The Forbes community should be thrilled to see their retired assets continuing to provide very real benefits to nearby communities. On behalf of all partners we offer our sincere thanks to Catholic Healthcare Ltd".
