By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

 

NEGLECTED since 2019, Hazelwood House is expected to be revived with plans underway for a new aged care facility for the Churchill community.

Renovations have begun, overseen by aged care and disability supports organisation Comficare, who were approached by the purchasers of Hazelwood House earlier this year.

After their own inquiries, Comficare founders TJ and Aklesh Pasuleti agreed to run the aged care facility, eventually opening up about the project at a community consultation session last month.

Around 60 people attended to hear about the plans, as well as giving them the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback on the best possible outcome for Hazelwood House and the entirety of Churchill.

“The community came along and supported us, it was surprising as well as knowing that we’re doing the right thing,” TJ told the Express.

“A lot of feedback came out, what they want to see and they wanted to hear from us as well … and then we explained what we’re planning to do too.”

The couple were told by interested residents, most of whom are formerly from Churchill but are currently living in Morwell or Traralgon aged care homes, they’d like to move back.

From the community day, Comficare also had plenty of inquiries regarding employment, receiving more than 30 job applications for when they are ready to hire.

Hazelwood House will offer 38 beds, but if further interest is sensed, extensions to the building will be considered to cater for more residents.

Renovations are trending well, firstly with new electrical works complete, with the focus now on flooring and room refurbishments.

An outdoor courtyard is also being worked on, including the eventual installation of high garden beds for residents to plant and grow their own vegetables.

A bus will also be purchased to allow group trips to different events and other ventures across the region.

With a childcare centre just down the road, to go along with the development of an early learning centre on Heesom Crescent, the idea of children being able to visit and spend quality time with the elderly is a heart-warming one.

Comficare, founded in 2022, is a family-run organisation that delivers residential aged care, support at home (which has seen plenty of inquiries from locals as well) and NDIS services.

After agreeing to operate Hazelwood House, Comficare met with the Lions Club of Churchill, who were pivotal in the establishment of the building in the early 1990s, about the news of its reopening.

Every time TJ and Aklesh travel down to the region to check on Hazelwood House’s progress, they regularly check in with the Lions Club to keep them up to date.

As such, the Lions Club helped push Comficare’s first presentation to the community, presenting flyers in the lead-up to raise awareness and provided the barbecue on the day.

TJ said that when initially discussing with the Lions Club of their plans, they were told of the community’s devastation when Hazelwood House was closed down.

“We spoke about it and (the Lions Club) said, ‘look, if you’re going to come on board and if you’re going to open the aged care, we are behind you. We will support you every way.’,” she said.

“So, they’ve been really helping us a lot to bring this back to life.”

Churchill community groups, namely the Lions Club, pushed for Hazelwood House to be converted into an aged care village from a previous hostel business in 1991.

Operating as a residential aged care facility until 2019, Latrobe City Council bought the site in 2020 after it was believed the building’s size and age was no longer viable.

The building was on the verge of being sold to Quantum Support Services in 2023, after council fixed the covenants that restricted Hazelwood House to be used solely as an aged care or retirement village.

Quantum had plans of a youth hub for the community, however withdrew from the purchase.

Comficare has lodged a permit application to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, which is pending approval until after the completion of Hazelwood House’s renovations.

The Churchill aged care facility is expected to be open and fully operational by the end of this year.