FRIENDSHIP HOUSE HISTORY (CONTINUED)
With the generosity of local and metropolitan firms, donating materials we were able to keep within our budget.
John
Law
then
priced
furniture
required
to
convert
the
house
into
a
home
and
found
we
needed
$3,980.00
to
complete
the
decor.
This
he
applied for from the Lotteries Commission and was duly granted.
We
then
went
about
purchasing
an
automatic
washing
machine,
dining
room
setting,
lounge
suite,
six
single
beds
and
mattresses,
blankets,
linen and all household effects.
The Rotaryannes then stepped in to add the finishing touches with curtains, cleaning etc.
Prior
to
the
house
being
completed
we
had
of
course,
to
make
arrangements
for
the
official
opening.
We
were
fortunate
in
being
able
to
arrange
for
the
Chairman
of
the
Lotteries
Commission,
Mr
Ken
Wetherell
to
declare
Friendship
House
officially
open
at
a
time
when
our
D.G.
Bruce Williams and wife Trixie were able to be with us.
That
date
was
the
25th
August
1976.
This
was
a
particularly
memorable
occasion
for
our
Club
in
that
it
heralded
the
completion
of
the
first
stage
of
our
project.
The
house
building
committee
had
completed
their
task
and
the
job
of
house
management
became
a
reality
with
a
sparkling, brand new, fully furnished house.
The
original
idea
was
to
provide
accommodation
where
a
widow
and
her
family
from
anywhere
in
our
State
could
travel
to
Albany
and
enjoy
a
week’s
holiday
absolutely
free
except
for
providing
food
for
herself
and
family.
We
have
not
only
limited
our
Friendship
House
to
widows
but
to
anyone
who
is
underprivileged
by
circumstance.
In
fact
if
sufficient
year
round
occupancy
cannot
be
obtained
we
will
make
our
facilities
available to say, pensioner couples, up to six at a time and a small charge per pensioner we feel is not too unreasonable.
The
house
was
later
converted,
mainly
bathroom/we
area
to
accommodate
those
unfortunate
enough
to
be
in
wheel
chairs
and
we
have
had
many house guests sent to us from "Rocky Bay Village".
Special
mention
should
be
made
of
the
following
Rotarians
for
their
generosity
over
the
years
of
occupancy
-
Terry
Nugent
for
the
supply
of
free
oil
for
heating
until
his
departure
from
Albany,
Don
Jones
for
the
supply
of
free
LP
gas,
John
Law
for
the
free
washing
and
delivery
of
laundry each week until his departure and finally Roy Perry who has taken over this onerous laundry task.
Our occupancy rate is excellent especially during the months November to March and school holidays.
Friendship
House
is
our
best
ongoing
Rotary
project
undertaken
by
our
Club
and
proof
can
be
seen
in
the
many
letters
and
comments
made
from families enjoying a little respite from difficult times.
In
1997
we
obtained
a
Grant
of
$12,000.
from
the
Lotteries
Commission
with
a
proviso
that
we
contribute
$6,000.
This
enabled
us
to
connect
to
deep
sewerage,
render
the
brickwork,
seal
the
drive,
tile
and
update
the
bathroom,
renew
mattresses,
stove,
fridge,
washing
machine,
bedspreads etc.
Security screen doors were also placed to all external doors.
We outlaid $19,502 -A larger sum than our original building and furnishing cost!
In
conclusion,
I
would
point
out
that
for
an
initial
financial
outlay
of
some
$15,000
we
now
own
as
asset
which
today’s
market
value
would
be
in
the vicinity of $300,000.
Past President Ross Tassicker (Deceased)