Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to congratulate Lions House on the opening of their new home at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital. I was delighted to be able to attend the official opening by His Excellency the Governor of Victoria and Mrs Chernov yesterday. This 12-room, $1.2-million facility is designed to provide accommodation to families of patients at the Austin Hospital and Mercy Hospital for Women. The total project has been funded by donations from many Lions clubs, individuals and corporates.

This started as a project of the Lions Club of Heidelberg Warringal back in 2002. They found an appropriate site and worked hard to see the project become a reality. The state Labor government donated the land. Sadly, Honorary Life Trustee Mrs Margaret Heathorn passed away on 23 January. Margaret played an influential role in the start-up of the project and her drive and determination were vital to the project's success. Happily, Margaret was able to visit the completed building earlier in the year. It was Margaret's daughter, Cathy Godbold, a nurse at the Mercy, who originally saw the need for this project.

I would like to acknowledge the tremendous work of all those involved, including Tony Benbow, the chairman of Lions House; the dedicated staff at Austin and Mercy Health; Sir James and Lady Gobbo as patrons; and all those in our local community who have worked hard to see the project become a reality. (Time expired)