All but nine of 190 regional business people who responded to an important skills survey have shown a streak of generosity and keen desire to see Dubbo’s Macquarie Home Stay up and running.
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Together, the 181 survey respondents donated $5430 to the planned accommodation facility for residents of Western NSW needing treatment at Dubbo Hospital.
They could have pocketed a survey participation payment of $30 each but instead “took up the option” presented by Regional Development Australia (RDA) Orana to give it to Macquarie Home Stay.
A report by RDA Orana on its Regional Skills Outlook survey is expected later this year.
On Wednesday morning RDA Orana staff and officials joined Macquarie Home Stay volunteers at the Lotus Cafe in Dubbo’s Talbragar Street to acknowledge the donation and the sentiment accompanying it.
RDA Orana deputy chairman, general manager of Mid-Western Regional Council Brad Cam, handed Macquarie Home Stay’s long-time chairman Rod Crowfoot a certificate to enthusiastic applause.
READ MORE: CWA gives $420,000 to Macquarie Home Stay.
Mr Crowfoot said more than 210,000 people relied on Dubbo Hospital for treatment and the donation was recognition of “what this facility will mean to the Orana region”.
Mr Crowfoot said the donation may go towards “administration and business” aspects of stage two development of the facility.
“We’’ll look forward to inviting you into Macquarie Home Stay when we are built and operating next year,” he told the small crowd that had gathered at the cafe.
Mr Crowfoot said “within a month” bulldozers would converge on land in east Dubbo to begin construction of stage one of Macquarie Home Stay including 14 guest rooms and shared kitchen and common areas.
The Regional Skills Outlook survey, conducted across 13 local government areas, has gathered data on topics such as “service provision, local workforce and training challenges”.
