By Laura Michell
A campaign for an aged care centre in Mernda and Doreen is gathering steam.
Doreen residents Terri Mackenzie, Dani Trubiano and Robyn Robertson have begun collecting signatures on a petition calling for Whittlesea council and the state and federal governments to start planning for an aged care facility in the Mernda and Doreen area.
They believe the centre should include independent living, a hostel and nursing day care. To date, they have collected more than 700 signatures.
The trio, with the help of Whittlesea council, Yan Yean MP Danielle Green, and local groups, will hold a community forum next month to form a working party to lobby for the centre to be built sooner rather than later.
Ms Mackenzie, who is a former aged care nurse, said there were no aged care facilities in the area, meaning older residents were being forced to move out of the community.
“We want to shine a spotlight on the lack of aged care facilities,” she said.
“If you have a partner who is sick and needs care, they have to go out of the area. But if you are not doing so well, then you maybe can’t visit,” she said.
“We are hoping to raise public awareness and start a proper working party to get this on people’s agendas.”
The group began campaigning after a Whittlesea council project asked residents to provide feedback on how they would like their communities to look in 2040.
Ms Mackenzie said the project made her realise that the Mernda and Doreen community couldn’t wait another 22 years for an aged care facility.
According to population forecast company, Forecast.id, Mernda and Doreen are home to more than 4600 people aged 50 and over. By 2028, the number of residents over 50 is expected to rise to 7750, before hitting close to 9500 in 2040.
“There isn’t even any land set aside for a [aged care] facility,” Ms Mackenzie said.
The community forum will be held on September 12 at the Orchard Road Community Centre, corner Orchard Road and Patience Avenue, Doreen from 10am-2pm.
It will include a light lunch and entertainment. Bookings are essential and can be made via trybooking.com/402825
