About us
MASARG (Mount Alexander Accommodation and Respite Group) is an independent group of parents, carers and community members working to address the accommodation needs for adults with intellectual disabilities. In the Castlemaine area there is no long-term safe and secure housing which provides for the complex needs of people with intellectual disabilities.
PROJECT 1
Respite House
Our first goal was to build a dedicated, fully accessible respite house. Thanks to incredible community support, we made it happen.
Melissa Court respite house (Lions McDonald Hill House)
2 Melissa Court, McKenzie Hill, Castlemaine VIC 3450
This welcoming, modern facility offers short-term and emergency respite in a home-like setting. It includes landscaped gardens and is in a bush setting on the outskirts of Castlemaine. The house is operated by Amicus, a registered NDIS provider.
PROJECT 2
Long-term housing
We believe everyone should have a safe, secure, and supported home where they can stay connected to their community. This project will deliver that. There is no long-term, safe and secure housing for people with intellectual disabilities who want, or need, to live independently in Castlemaine.
Through the ‘A home of my own’ project MASARG has researched and explored various options to create housing solutions. We are still working to achieve this goal.
We’re currently:
— Advocating to local, State and Federal government on the requirements for people with intellectual disabilities
— Researching sustainable housing models
— Engaging with families and community partners
— Seeking funding and support to bring this vision to life
Funding Project 1
This truly is “the house that Castlemaine built.” Community-led fundraising, grants, and donations—from local businesses, families, and individuals—made our respite house a reality.
Key contributions came from Castlemaine Lions Club, Bob and Eileen McDonald, Victorian state government, federal government and Maldon & District Community Bank.
Thank you to every single supporter who helped make a difference.
Funding and support
This truly is the house that Castlemaine built. We are very grateful for the many thousands of dollars given by the community to fundraising initiatives led by local people which, when combined with the many grants and other donations received have made the respite house a reality.
SUPPORT US BY MAKING A DONATION
MASARG is a registered Public Benevolent Institution and endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient.
ABN 86 180 301 065
SEED FUNDING
$1,000 Department of Planning & Community Development now known as Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure
GRANTS
$300,000 — Victorian Government Department of Human Services
$50,000 — Victorian Government Department of Human Services — Fire alarm system and servicing
$300,000 — Federal Government grant
$50,000 — Maldon Community Bank Grant Partnership to support building of house
$3,370 — Department of Planning and Community Development Volunteers Grant 2011/12 to purchase a laptop/printer/data projector
$2,030 — Department of Planning and Community Development Volunteers Grant 2012/13 for Xero accounting program & training
$3,000 — Mt Alexander Shire Community Grant 2012/13 for a solar unit on respite house
$5,000 — Castlemaine Health
$2,080 — RACV Community Grant to develop outdoor area on north side of house
$19,000 — RACV Community Grant for an electric hoist system for bathroom and bedroom
$10,000 — Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) through Bendigo Health, Carer Support — to cover the costs of a Project Worker
$3,000 — Mt Alexander Shire Community Grant 2015/16 for landscaping and gardening
DONATION OF LAND
Bob and Eileen McDonald donated 2.68 ha of land — McKenzie Hill, Maldon Road, Castlemaine
DONATIONS & FUNDRAISING
$240,000 — Castlemaine Lions Club — Partnership to support building of house
$1,871 — Tour de Vines fundraising event organised by the Castlemainiacs and the Ducks
$4,000 — Local businesses supported Barry Trait’s 2010 Finke Desert fundraiser
$22,855 — Castlemainiacs Murray to Moyne bike ride + 80s night fundraiser
‘The Ducks’ organised the very enjoyable 80s night, and coffee sales
$4,175.10 — Mount Alexander Shire Council colleagues who cycled the Port to Port (Mildura to Echuca)
Felix Cappy Bequest — $20,000
Rusden Foundation — $2,000
Harcourt Uniting Church — $2,000
Harcourt CWA — $1,550
Harcourt Lions Club — $5,035.22
Newstead CWA — $100
Castlemaine Rotary Murray to Moyne — $1,000
Castlemaine Health — $5,000
Castlemaine Lions Club — $1,100 (Wood sales)
Castlemaine Lions Club — $5,000 (Audio visual equipment)
Tarrengower Prison — $120
Mayoral Ball — $6,000
Goldfield Roses/Gardens — $200
U3A — $1,000
Quilters Guild — $1,780
Ministers Fraternal — $120
Castlemaine Catholic Church — $5,000
Chewton Senior Citizens — $1,550
John Brumby — $990
Castlemaine Ladies Tennis — $100
St Mary’s School — $200
Business Mountt Alexander — $225.78
Castlemaine Senior Citizens — $170
Campbells Creek riders — $670
Port to Port riders-2 rides — $8,049.82
Angel Fund — $5,000
Abbott Foundation — $2.986
MAC Users — $1,712.01
Maldon Quilters — $1,700
1952 reunion — $261.15
Law Partners Compensation Lawyers- $1,000
Collection Boxes — $1,774.50
E Spicer — $500
S Harrison — $100
Prof Spicer — $700
M Rowe — $500
I Drakeford — $100
Bendigo Excav — $1,000
Hazeldines — $1,000
Primal — $1,000
F Bottcher — $1,110
K Flyn — $$500
R McConville — $200
D Baud — $650
P Padreny — $100
M Rennie — $510
C&S Telford — $2,000
H Jacka — $350
P Douglass — $1,386
H Cochrane — $500
G Davey — $1,000
D Hards — $100
P Millar — $100
K Goodall — $600
J Jenkin — $304
M Bodzer — $200
Anon — $2,100
Give Now & other — $920.72
COIN DONATION BOXES
$295
$680.90
SERVICES IN KIND / REDUCTION IN FEES FOR SERVICES
MGR Accountants provide an accounting service at a reduced fee
Surveying — Tomkinson Group
Bushfire Management Statement — Allied Design Consultants
Geotest Bendigo — waiving of soil test fees
In kind services pledged by local businessman for asphalting when required
In kind services pledged by Peter Douglas for creating trench for services when required
In kind services pledged by Mount Alexander Shire (waiving of the fee for using the Senior Citizens Hall for our monthly meetings)
Website maintenance by Elizabeth Geddes of Chops for Tea
Trench digging by Peter Douglass — a most generous reduction on the fees
Additional soil provided by Slingo Earthmoving — again a generous reduction in fees
DONATION OF CAR TO RAFFLE
Mitsubishi Mirage from Castlemaine Mitsubishi — Colin Rantall. Retail value of $14,785
DONATION OF GOODS
$3000 spa from Tonks in Castlemaine
Many beautiful quilts lovingly handmade by the the Goldfields Quilters
Castlemaine Garden Club donated some wonderful trees to add to our landscaping.
BEQUESTS
$20,000 legacy from deceased estate of local businessman Felix Cappy.
MEDIA SUPPORT
We are very grateful for the coverage we have received from the following:
Castlemaine Mail
Midland Express
Bendigo Advertiser
Tarrengower Times
ABC Radio
ABC online