New Ronald McDonald House Kitchen to support families through medical treatment
The families of ill and injured children now have access to upgraded and safer cooking facilities while staying at Townsville’s Ronald McDonald House thanks to the assistance of a Federal Government grant.
Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson joined Ronald McDonald House Charities North Australia CEO Denise Lumsden this morning for the official opening of the Douglas facility’s new family kitchen.
Mr Thompson said the upgrade was extremely important for the more than 400 families a year who call the facility home while enduring a difficult time.
“As the father of two young girls I can imagine just how tough it must be to not only be away from home but also go through the emotional challenge of your child needing serious medical treatment,” Mr Thompson said.
“That’s why the work that Ronald McDonald House Charities does is so incredibly important – providing accommodation right near the hospital for mums, dads, siblings and carers who’ve travelled from out of town.
“While the facilities here are great, the kitchen was getting on in years and was needing an upgrade. The sense of comfort and normality a home-cooked meal can bring can be really helpful for the families who use this facility.
“It’s great to have been able to assist in making this project possible through a $176,000 grant.”
Ms Lumsden said the upgrade was well overdue and an important step in ensuring the facility would continue to be able to provide a quality service for its guests.
“Refreshing our 16-year old kitchen to make it a modern, safe, enjoyable space for families to spend time in has been a long time in the making,” she said.
“Thanks to a generous grant from the Australian Government’s Building Better Regions Fund, we were able to bring this project to life.
“The kitchen truly is the heart of our House, and we are so proud to welcome families into a space where they can unwind and just be a family, after a long day over at the Hospital. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has made this possible.”
The kitchen has been built at a semi-commercial grade which will allow more fundraising and community volunteering opportunities.
Contributions to the build were also made by Hillery Group, Rotary Club of Townsville Sunrise, the Queensland Gambling Benefit Fund and Ronald McDonald House Charities North Australia.
More information on Ronald McDonald House Townsville can be found at https://www.rmhc.org.au/programs/houses/qld/ronald-mcdonald-house-townsville.
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