Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Breaking the Soil at Munroona Gardens. Photo credit: Zach Houtenville.
Murroona Gardens has officially broken ground on a major expansion that will deliver 24 purpose-built dementia care rooms and a new central laundry at the Bowen aged care facility.
Each of the new 12-bedroom homes will provide a more homely setting, with private rooms and shared living, dining and household spaces designed to put residents at ease. The smaller environment will allow staff to build closer relationships with residents and tailor care to their individual needs and routines.
A new central laundry will further support the growing community by allowing Murroona Gardens to continue managing residents’ washing on site.
The new facilities form part of a $14 million project designed to expand specialised dementia care in Bowen and allow more residents to receive support close to their families and community.
“There are a lot of small towns that don’t have facilities like this,” said Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox.
“It’s not only the care they provide, but how they provide that care. I’m looking forward to seeing this development completed.”
For Mr Willcox, the development also carries a strong personal connection, with four of his loved ones having received care at Murroona Gardens.
Mr Willcox advocated for the project’s funding in Canberra and said the new dementia homes would add another important level of care to a facility built and owned by the Bowen community.
“It’s really important that we look after the aged in our community,” Mr Willcox said.
“They’re the people who paved the way for us and established the communities we now enjoy.
“As they reach their twilight years, it is incumbent on us to make sure we take care of them and say thank you.”
Whitsunday Regional Council has assisted Murroona Gardens through the development process, including ample support with permits and progressing the project’s approvals.
Mayor Ry Collins said the expansion was particularly important as more Whitsunday residents choose to age within the region and require specialised care close to home.
“We need to know that we have these facilities in the region and that people don’t have to travel away to get that sort of care,” Mayor Collins said.
He said the Whitsundays’ growing and ageing population would continue to place greater demand on local aged care and health services.
“We’re going to need more aged care facilities, more medical facilities and bigger hospitals to make sure that we can accommodate all of our people and the needs that they have,” he said.
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