Expanding Merriwa’s Aged Care

Pathways to Aged Care in Merriwa

As we work through issues regarding Gummun Place Hostel it is timely to ask questions about the lack of aged care pathways (from those with very low needs to those with very high needs) in Merriwa.

Gummun Place Hostel is an exemplary facility and services residents with a relatively high level of aged-care needs. Given the significant amount of grounds still available at Gummun Place, it may now be pertinent to ask a question regarding the expansiton of hte facility to accommodate a range of aged-care residents (from low- to high-care needs).

FY22 to FY23 there has been a 1.8% increase in home care providers

1.8%

A quarter of Home Care Package providers hold 40% of Aust. Govt. funding

40%

FY22 to FY23 saw a 20% increase in those accessing Home Care Packages

20%

FY22 to FY23 saw a 2.4% increase in people supported by aged care services

2.4%

Statistics are from KPMG’s Australian Aged Care Sector Analysis.

Fun Facts

And just for a little trivia ...

Did you know?

Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated the first telephone in Australia at "Brindley Park" Merriwa

Merriwa hosted the first bushmen's carnival (rodeo) at the Merriwa Showground in 1928

Racehorse 'OId Rowley' is now resting in Merriwa after winning the 1940 Melbourne Cup at 100 to 1

Merriwa is recognised as the birthplace of the Pony Club movement in 1946

Night-time cricket was played under lights in Merriwa (in 1983), years before the Melbourne Cricket Ground (Feb 1985)

In the early days, bullock teams hauled heavily laden wagons with huge loads of wool bales long distances over non-existent roads to Morpeth to be loaded onto ships for the trip to Sydney and then on to London

Merriwa's annual Festival of the Fleeces started in 1990, and was originally held at the "Brindley Park" wool shed. It is a tribute to the vital part sheep and wool have played in establishing Merriwa as a recognised premium agricultural district

Some of the early settlers to Merriwa included: Legislative Council AL Mackenzie, Charles Blaxland ("Cullingral"), WC Wentworth, JB Bettington ("Brindley Park" also a MLC and a director of the Bank of NSW 1828-1850), George Hall ("Gundibri"), Henry Dutton ("Terragong")