Long-term resident becomes Honorary Freeman of the Town
On Friday 13 February over 300 people helped celebrate the bestowing of the title of Honorary Freeman of the Town of Bassendean on Mrs Gwen Fenech OAM JP.
The title of ‘Honorary Freeman of the Town of Bassendean’ is the most prestigious form of honour or recognition that the Council can confer upon an individual person and is only given in rare and exceptional circumstances.
Mrs Fenech has given a lifetime of service to the community and was an employee of the Town for 25 years. During this time she was instrumental in establishing the Town’s Welfare Services, including Volunteer Community Transport, the Adult Day Care Centre, and the Hyde Retirement Village. She instigated social activities for seniors through the Broadway II Band, the Melody Club and the Afternoon Tea Dance Social Club, which continue today.
In bestowing the title, the Mayor said, ‘Today we acknowledge a lifetime commitment to the residents in our Town, a lifetime of passion for what is right, a lifetime of giving, a lifetime of epitomising community spirit.’
Read the Mayor's entire speech >>>
Town successful in attracting funds for building extension
The Town delivers Home and Community Care (HACC) and CACP services to it’s eligible senior citizens from the Ashfield Community Centre at 2 Coulston Road, Ashfield. The building houses administration, day centre and other functions.
These services have seen rapid growth in recent years.
From 2003 to 2009, in HACC alone, services grew from 203 clients to 480, and the recurrent funding budget from $445,558 to almost a million dollars each year.
This growth in services also resulted in a growth in the staffing numbers that is now at maximum point within the physical confines of the building.
In 2008, Council made applications for funding to Lotteries West and HACC to extend the building to meet the increased office and ancillary facilities demand. Additionally, the Town sought to improve the day centre’s facilities, particularly the outside area.
Both applications were successful and the Town is now in the process of finalising the architectural drawings to go out to tender for the capital works.
When the work is finished it will alleviate the current cramped conditions and allow for some further growth in HACC services that will, in all likelihood, be required in the future.
