Zac’s Place Inc. was formally opened on Friday afternoon in front of over 40 helpers and guests.

Zac’s Place Incorporated named the house, ‘Baz’s Place’ in Albury Street Murrumburrah. It is a home that can house people in the local area who are in need of somewhere to live for up to six months. This could be because of illness, a fire, break up of relationship or many other reasons. The support available in the community will be there for everyone including support from Zac’s Place inc.

Organisers Glenn and Ros Stewart were overwhelmed by the support they received during the project which commenced in July 2014. Ros said “We would like to thank the following people and businesses for there time, labour, hardware and equipment. As well, a big thankyou to all the paid services for the high quality of workmanship they provided.”

“Green 4 Life donated a connected to the grid solar system, Robert Scott donated electrical work, Essential Energy donated electrical work, Firths carpet in Yass donated the carpet and all the furniture was also donated. The kitchen was donated along with tiles from Tiny’s Green Shed in Canberra, paint came from the Tuggeranong Baptist Church, carpentry work and paint from Shane Glover, front verandah carpentry and brick work by Karl Valerious.”

“We’d also like to thank Cameron as well as Graham Taylor from Rotary. The Front verandah materials were donated by Hilton from the Harden Motel, and floor sanding by Steve Byrnes of Barnes Store. Tegra donated the concrete for the BBQ area and Harden Bearings and Hardware for all the free deliveries as well as answering all our (dumb) handyman questions. The Sash windows were repaired by Gareth Rowlands and Peter Murray.”

There has been over 70 volunteers who have helped over a six month period to prepare the house from windows, floor, plastering, painting, curtains and gardening. Many of the vouchers won in the Shop local campaign run by the Harden Community Bank and The Twin Town Times have gone towards supporting the house.

Ros said “When we first came to Harden 246 Albury Street was in a state of disrepair that rendered it extremely unpleasant to live in. We wanted to make it a similar to arrangement as our community centre in Yass. We have a 5 year lease arrangement with the owner that we would renovate and upgrade the house to a high standard as our rent.”

Zac’s Place Inc. is not receiving any funding to provide this service. This is a deliberate decision so that the house can be available to, and used by, any people in the community who may need it. Some examples of people who may use the house are the people whose house burnt down in August last year, a local family who has to renovate their house to be able to care for their mother and can’t live in their house during the renovation.

It can be available for any individual, couple or family who have circumstances in their lives that they need some medium term stability in their housing. The reasons for this are as many as people can imagine. It could be illness, relationship breakdowns or financial difficulties just to name a few. The people who would live in the house will be offered it for a period of approximately six months enabling a supportive move into their permanent accommodation.

This house will be a service to Harden and the local community that is unique in its provision of support to local people. There is no financial cost to the community only gain for the support that is provided and the huge benefits to the people living there being able to remain in their local area with the supports they know and trust.

People can find out more about Zac’s Place Inc. on our website www.zacsplaceinc.org or on the Zac’s Place Facebook.