|PIC1|The New South Wales south coast town of Moruya is a two hour drive from Canberra, the nation's capital where the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) is based. The respite facility there is co-ordinated by Well-Being Australia's Kim Gillis, and the athletes regard a visit there as one of the highlights of their training regime.
Stage one of refurbishment has seen all four bathroom facilities totally redesigned and replaced, and including wheel-chair access provided to the downstairs bathroom. This involved major realignment and replacement of doors and redesign of the bathroom, toilet and laundry access.
In addition, both the upstairs and downstairs kitchens are to be replaced. Both kitchens have a restful view over the hallmark 'Bush Orchestra', 10 acres of tall Ironbark trees which shelter (among other birds) the bell-birds (Bell Miners), with their wonderful ringing chorus.
"Undoubtedly the bush and its symphony is an astonishing feature of Basil Sellers Moruya; every person who visits is left with an indelible mark of peace upon their soul," explained Mark Tronson, chairman of Well-Being Australia.
Kim Gillis has restored the original timber of the outside deck so it shows its natural beauty, and he has enhanced the rustic effect with hand-crafted Ironbark tables and chairs so that visitors might enjoy the ambiance of the 'bush orchestra'.
Kim Gillis has established a relationship with friends associated with groups of foster parents in Canberra, so that now, in quiet times for AIS athletes, the respite facility is free to host foster families on a regular basis. This is complemented by the ministry of Michelle Gillis, the deputy principal of the Canberra Emmaus Christian School, who arranges regular visits by a number of single mothers, who cannot afford any other sort of relief or a break.
Stage Two of the upgrade of the Basil Sellers Moruya respite facility will see the removal of the Koppers Logs cladding to an outer shell consisting of brick, all weather board and colorbond.
"This renovation program has been in the pipeline for some time," M V Tronson explained. "Once finished, it will give Basil Sellers Moruya a whole new look."
Further stages, three and four are planned for next two years or so.
Stage three is an upper deck overlooking the Deua Valley and the insertion of glass doors onto the deck, replacing what is now the front end Kopper Log face of the building.
Stage four is the relocation of the Basil Sellers Art Centre from one side of the 10 acre allotment, across to being adjacent to the Respite facility. This Art Centre will then be refurbished so that a glass front overlooking the valley will become its prominent feature.
"The donated art works from Mr Basil Sellers' private collection will hang on the back wall and the art facility will double up as a room for seminars and workshops," M V Tronson noted. "This building, with the refurbished Basil Sellers Respite facility, will complement each other, and will both be linked by their glass walls and balconies to the natural environment of the Bush Orchestra."