Community gathers for Eric Tolliday units opening

L-R: BCH Board chair Fay Agterhuis, Sirovilla manager Vicky Chettleburgh, son of Eric Tolliday, Neil Tolliday, and Sirovilla Board chair Kate Kerkin. Photo: SUPPLIED

AT least 60 people gathered in Point Lonsdale last week to celebrate the official opening of the Eric Tolliday Units.

Bellarine Community Health (BCH), in partnership with Sirovilla, celebrated the opening of the 16 units, which will provide affordable and secure housing to older residents on the grounds of BCH’s Point Lonsdale site.

Sirovilla board chair Kate Kerkin said the organisation was thrilled to support older independent community members with affordable, safe and secure accommodation.

“Our experience at Point Lonsdale so far has highlighted the need for this type of housing on the Bellarine Peninsula,” Ms Kerkin said.

“We have more people on our waitlist at Point Lonsdale than we do on the wait list at Anglesea which has been run by Sirovilla for over 10 years.”

The 60 people at the opening included Neil Tolliday, the son of Eric Tolliday, current residents and their families, Board Directors of both BCH and Sirovilla, Bellarine MP Alison Marchant and Borough of Queenscliffe Mayor Isabella Tolhurst gathered to mark the occasion.

The units, now refurbished and renovated, were originally opened in two stages in the early 1980’s.

The first eight self-contained units were funded by the Commonwealth Department of Social Security and were opened in 1982, before the second eight units were opened in 1984.

BCH Board Chair Fay Agterhuis acknowledged the redevelopment and reopening of the units was a long and, at times, difficult process, but is pleased with the end result.

“It’s a partnership with an alignment of values, people, community, and relationships that now sees the site once again active, units renovated and occupied and home to its own active and engaged community within a community,” Ms Agterhuis said.

The units were named in honour of Eric Tolliday (deceased) after he gave over 30 years of service to his local community as Treasurer of the Queenscliff and District Memorial Hospital Society and the Queenscliff and District Community Health Centre.

His son Neil congratulated all involved in the redevelopment and official opening.

“On behalf of the Tolliday family I congratulate the Sirovilla team for their hard work leading to today’s achievement.”

The 16-unit village is based on Nelson Road, adjoining BCH Point Lonsdale on the corner of Grimes Road.