Rochester’s senior citizens organisation has welcomed its inclusion on the Campaspe Shire’s Asset Management Plan “disposal’’ list and is excited about finally being able to ”run its own race“.
Buildings and land on which Campaspe Shire senior citizens clubs operate have been listed for disposal in the document, which was adopted at last Wednesday evening’s council meeting.
Rochester is just one of the clubs whose meeting place is listed, with Rushworth, Echuca and Stanhope also named as surplus to shire needs.
And while other clubs may be daunted by the prospect of being responsible for the entire running costs of their own building, the Rochester club cannot wait for the process to be completed.
Rochester Senior Citizens’ Club president Leeanne Fullard said her club’s situation was a little unique and her research had uncovered that — despite the belief of some members — the club did not own the building.
The 60 Campaspe St property is listed for disposal in the 10-year Asset Management Plan.
The building was opened in 1976 by former Member for Rodney Eddie Hann, on the back of a $95,000 Commonwealth Government grant allocated through the then local government authority.
The club later secured a loan from the shire for expansion, but has since repaid that loan.
Ms Fullard said many on the club executive were of the understanding that the senior citizens owned the building prior to amalgamation, when Campaspe Shire took back control of the property.
Since then the shire has paid for the running costs of the club, but a renegotiation of the previous arrangement meant the club was now better off running its own race.
Ms Fullard said income from the club’s Moore Street Op Shop would allow it to accept the running costs of the building, currently paid for by the Campaspe Shire — things like rates, electricity, maintenance and other outgoings.
“We would not contemplate doing this without the op shop. Without that we would have probably been forced to let them take it.
“It probably will be quite expensive for us, but we think we can handle it. We will be able to run our own show and have more of a say on what goes on with the property.
“Most importantly we will be able to get some of the maintenance work done, because the building itself requires attention,” Ms Fullard said.
The club owns the op shop building and land outright, having been bequested the site by a former member who died.
Ms Fullard said several Campaspe Shire senior citizens groups were struggling for members and several had almost accepted they would have to go into recess.
“We had our 67th birthday in May and some of the senior citizens groups that we had invited had either closed down or working out of a community hub.
"We now have members from Elmore, Lockington, Kyabram and Echuca. When we have special events we also invite other seniors clubs that are still active in the area.
“A lot of these other groups feel as though they may dwindle away.
“Currently we have 127 members and are fortunate enough to have a mixture of age groups from those first becoming seniors to those who have worked tirelessly for many years and are just enjoying each others company,” she said.
Ms Fullard said her group had applied to take over the property on the back of the support of Rochester ward councillor Paul Jarman.
“The building is on a crown allotment, which means our application to the property manager to take over the deeds should be successful,” she said.
Ms Fullard said the situation had been difficult to research as most of the senior citizens who were at the forefront of early negotiations, during the 1970s, had passed.