The computers come courtesy of Club Mudgee.

Their CEO, Maureen Hutchison, said that Pioneer House had applied for one of their Club Grants which are available for funding for various community-related projects.

However, circumstances actually lined up better for them than expected.

“We became aware that they were going to set up some facilities,” she said. “Initially they put in a Club Grants application and were looking for financial assistance to purchase a computer.

“But we had some that weren’t very old that we were replacing and decided to provide four to Pioneer House.

“So we sent them to High Tech ITworX, who stripped them back and installed them.”

Pioneer House CEO/Director of Nursing, Fran Trisley, thanked the Club for quadrupling what they were hoping for. 

“We would’ve very happily had one computer, but the generosity far exceeded what we were expecting,” she said.

And added that they tied in nicely with a significant refurbishment of Pioneer House that they hope to have finished by June.

It will see B-wing completely redone, along with the C-wing communal area – the resident dining room, lounge room and kitchenette – and the library, dubbed the PALS Library in honour of the Pioneer Auxiliary Ladies. 

“When we were doing the refurbishment we thought we’d take it a little bit further and incorporated the whole computer station into the project,” she said.

“Residents can email, Google things they like, and Skype with family who live away and see their grandkids – which is really nice.”

Round 2 Club Grants applications received between November 1 and February 28 are tabled for board consideration at their monthly meeting in March. Round 3 applications received between March 1 and June 30, will then be put to the board at the July meeting.

For more information and to download an application form at clubmudgee.com.au/club-grants

Louise Auld was congratulated and thanked for her dedication and commitment to residents after she recently reached 25 years of service with Pioneer House.