Lions Club legacy: Specialist disability home honours community contribution

OCEAN Grove’s newly constructed specialist disability home has been dedicated to the three former Lions Club of Ocean Grove Barwon Heads members whose passion for the project helped ensure it became a reality.

Opened in August last year, the purpose-built home aims to empower its residents to live with independence in their local community and allows tailored support from genU to be delivered to them in their own home.

The Lions Club contributed $600,000 to the $2.3 million project, the culmination of more than a decade of fundraising, which began in 2011 with a donation from the Corless family.

The Lions Club has since made an additional donation of $6,500 to further support the project.

A plaque has now been installed at the site honouring the contributions of Ed Corless, Bill Willocks and John Brady, who sadly passed before the project was completed, but whose passion for ensuring people with disability have a place they can call home in the community inspired the Lions Club to deliver its biggest fundraising effort to date.

genU chief executive officer Clare Amies thanked the Lions Club of Ocean Grove Barwon Heads for its ongoing support and for recognising the significant benefits of the accommodation project to the community.

“We are grateful for this successful community partnership and making another step towards building genuinely inclusive communities,” she said.

“genU put clients at the centre of everything we do, and I know the Lions Club members put community at the centre of all its important work.

“We also share the belief that people with disability need access to their community and appropriate, modern housing gives residents and their families the confidence, ease and self-respect to feel they genuinely belong in their community.”

 

 

Lions Club of Ocean Grove Barwon Heads president Dr Bob Marmion welcomed the dedication.

“Our club is deeply proud the plaque dedicates the building to the three Lions Club members who have passed,” he said.

“Ed Corless, Bill Willocks and John Brady provided the initiative, leadership and ongoing commitment to ensure the project produced this wonderful result.”

The Ocean Grove residence, which has the capacity to house four individuals, currently has a vacancy.

Ms Amies encouraged anyone looking for specialist disability accommodation to consider the Ocean Grove home.

“This is a beautiful, modern residence the residents are very proud to call home,” she said.

“Built to meet Class Three High Physical Support standards, liveability was very much front of mind in the design, which incorporated feedback from our residents and families.

“There are separate bedrooms, all with ensuites, and common living areas including one to cater for family visits.

“The residence has also been designed for 24/7 supported independent living for the residents so they can receive the vital and immediate support they need.”

For more information, head to genu.org.au/services/disability-services/housing-and-living-supports/ocean-grove