Our Visit to Pineroo Village

Past President John Smith organised the vocational visit to Pineroo Village adjacent to South City shopping mall. Since President David was travelling and Immediate Past President Darren was also travelling and Past President Phil has COVID, Past President and Organiser John took over the job of running the meeting...and he did it well. In the photo above he is about to introduce our speaker Pineroo Village CEO Shane McMullen.

The history of the organisation is quite interesting. Opening Doors Foundation Ltd, a not-for-profit entity, originated in 1951 through the generosity of Mr E.V. Roberts, who owned the local radio station, 2WG, in Wagga Wagga. Mr Roberts purchased 18.5 acres of land in Bourke St, Wagga Wagga and gifted the land to the to the 2WG Women’s Club.

The Women’s Club identified there was a need in the community to provide accommodation for aged persons who were financially disadvantaged. At the time there were no aged care services and very little public housing in the community, so they set about fundraising for the development of independent living units for the aged through the establishment of the 2WG Old Peoples’ Home Trust Inc. With the assistance of government grants and community donations the independent living units were established in 1955.

Over time the organisation expanded, providing residential aged care and community aged care to the communities of Wagga Wagga and surrounding districts. The organisation had several name changes and eventually become known as The Haven.

Eventually, the residential aged care and community aged care business units became the primary operations of the organisation, receiving significant recurrent government funding. However, at the heart of the organisation were the independent living units providing housing for financially and socially disadvantaged aged person who still wanted to live independently. Eventually, early in 2018 the Board undertook a strategic review and made the decision to sell off the residential and community aged care services and to return to the organisation’s origin and concentrate on housing for those in need. The Haven became known as Opening Doors Foundation Ltd.

HOW MUCH IS THE RENT?

Seniors Living Units Rental Rates

The rent you pay will depend on your circumstances. The table below details how your rent will be calculated and current rental rates as at 20 March 2024.

Opening Doors Foundation is now focusing on providing affordable seniors housing and disability housing on a rental basis for Wagga Wagga and the smaller communities in surrounding districts.

We know our plan will work, we have researched and identified the need and we have done it before at The Haven. We are a not for profit and we are doing this without any recurrent government funding.

Just like the 2WG Women’s Club.