You can feel the love that's gone into the construction of Wellington's Maranatha Gunyah Centre, says Federal Member for Calare Andrew Gee.
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Maranatha Gunyah is Australia's first purpose-built centre to offer intergenerational care and learning. It will allow children in child care to mix with aged care residents during joint activities during the day.
The facility will welcome its first intake of students on October 12.
"This state-of-the-art facility will bring joy to people both young and not-so-young through learning, with state-of-the-art technology and awe-inspiring activity spaces from a yarning centre to an outdoor garden," Mr Gee.
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But Mr Gee said the best part was that it had been "built by locals, for locals".
"Architect Kirk Gleeson and local builder Matt Redfern, with the support of $1.5 million from the Australian government's Building Better Regions Fund have developed an architectural masterpiece which will benefit the Wellington community for decades to come," Mr Gee said.
Maranatha Gunyah chairman Terry Frost first had the idea for the centre nine years ago. He saw how his father, who was in a dementia ward, lit up around children.
Mr Gee said the centre was already attracting national and international interest and researchers were keen on studying the benefits of the centre.
"This is Wellington leading the world and the community should be very proud of what it's achieved here. It's been built with love and when you walk through it, you can feel it. It's truly inspirational," he said.