Ergon helps Charleville seniors stay independent

Charleville’s ageing population has access to new equipment to enable them to stay longer in their own homes, thanks to a financial boost from the Energex-Ergon Community Fund.

Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham today announced the $5000 grant to the Charleville Hospital Auxiliary, which has bought equipment, including three self-propelled wheelchairs, four day chairs, 11 shower chairs and 11 over-toilet aids.

“Keeping Charleville’s ageing community as healthy, safe and agile as possible is vitally important and this equipment will assist older people to remain in their homes while improving and maintaining their health and well-being,” he said.

“This will keep our healthy older people out of the nursing home, independently living with the aid of this equipment.”

Dr Lynham said the $5000 allocation to the Charleville Hospital Auxiliary was among 25 grants totalling more than $100,000 awarded to groups across Queensland.

Hospital Auxiliary secretary Annie Liston thanked Ergon for the funding, saying the increased availability of equipment on a loan basis would support the district’s seniors to live independently.

“Our Shire has an ageing population, so we are succession planning for quality of life and sustaining for our ageing community,” she said.

“However, our shire has been drought-declared for the past five years, so we didn’t have sufficient resources to fund this equipment ourselves, so we are grateful for Ergon’s support.”

Ergon’s Charleville work group leader Brent Alexander said Ergon was always proud to provide hard-working local not-for-profit groups such as the hospital auxiliary a helping hand, which in turn assists the wider community.

“Over the past 10 years, the Community Fund has seen some great work being undertaken by people making their local region a better place, and this year is no different,” he said.

“This year we have supported groups assisting everyone from toddlers to senior citizens, as well as environmental and educational programs.

“Just like the hard-working people at the hospital auxiliary, our staff are also from the region and we always enjoy seeing this funding being used for local projects.”

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Media inquiries:

For Dr Lynham – Jan Martin 0439 341 314

Annie Liston   4654 7950

Ergon - Rod Rehbein   4153 9813 or 0407 031 072