The Wagga RSL Club’s board of directors agreed to commit $100,000 to the Pro Patria Trust and directly assist in the purchase of the Carmelite Monastery site. Photo: Supplied.
Wagga RSL Club has donated $100,000 to Pro Patria Trust to help secure the Carmelite Monastery.
The Pro Patria Property Trust is transforming the Carmelite Monastery into a clinical treatment support site for veterans, defence and emergency support personnel. The centre will serve as an innovative multidisciplinary facility that provides sorely needed holistic health treatments to veterans and first responders.
Pro Patria Property Trust trustee secretary Alan Lean said the donation from Wagga RSL Club was a “wonderful commitment” and “appreciated”.
“The RSL Club have been a wonderful supporter since the inception of the Pro Patria Centre,” Mr Lean said.
“This commitment has really given us a lot of credible support to enable us to spread the word around about the funding.”
Mr Lean said the Pro Patria Property Trust so far had raised $650,000.
Wagga RSL Club general manager Andrew Bell said the club had a policy to donate a substantial amount of money to one charity each year.
“Pro Patria Centre was raised by the board members and unanimously agreed it is a great cause to get behind and give them our support, especially when you consider the RSL Club is based on the thoughts of keeping the RSL tradition going.”
The general manger said veteran and Pro Patria Centre director Jason Frost deserved a great deal of credit.
“He’s been working tirelessly on it for probably two or three years and all the volunteers and committee members who have contributed to the cause deserve the city’s thanks,” Mr Bell said.
“And they also deserve the nation’s thanks for trying to give these people (veterans, defence and emergency support personnel) the treatment they deserve.”
RSL Club said in a statement the board believed that the approach being taken by the Pro Patria Board and Trust most suitably met the needs of returned servicemen and first responders with an approachable, friendly and down to earth facility. Pro Patria was not simply a clinical referral service as offered by some other agencies.
“We recognise how significant this centre is to ensure our veterans, first responders and their families receive the services and treatment they need to heal and guarantee their future.
“The club has always shown great support from day one of the centre and to date has donated over $50,000 in cash as well as excess furniture, fittings and kitchen equipment to assist in the establishment of this vital service.”
The club said the project was very close to their hearts, and they were thankful to be able to assist.
“We are fully aware that there is a lack of suitable and appropriate services of this type in our community, and we want this to change. We see that Pro Patria is the current solution – we now just need everyone’s help to make it happen.”
Stage one of the renovations to the Pro Patria Centre has been completed and doctors and psychiatrists have moved into the centre.
Mr Lean said stage two would include the construction of substantial office space and room for more people to book in with the centre.
“The construction certificate for stage two is currently with Wagga City Council and we’re waiting for their approval to come through,” he said.
To donate to the centre, click here.
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