1970 > It was the late Mr. Don Isles, through the Rotary Club of Griffith, who first suggested to a small gathering of concerned representatives of other local Service Clubs in the town, that there was an urgent need for a Nursing Home in Griffith which could cater for both High and Low Care accommodation.
1971 > On the 8th November 1971, the first public meeting was held to gather support for the project and as a result of this meeting, a local Working Committee was formed to promote The Pioneers Lodge Nursing Home Project.
1972 > On 10 February 1972, the Pioneers Lodge Ladies Auxiliary was founded primarily to raise funds for the project. Between 1972 and 1975 the Working Committee and the Ladies Auxiliary were busy raising funds locally and lobbying support.
1975 > In 1975, the NSW Department of Health approved the lease of approximately 0.4832 hectares of land on the existing Griffith Base Hospital site, Animoo Avenue, Griffith for the project.
1976 > In December 1976, a tender from local builders Warburton Constructions was selected for the construction of the 62 bed facility and building commenced.
1978 > On 26th August 1978, the facility was officially opened by Stuart McWilliam, President of The Pioneers Lodge Board of Directors and long time patron. The Pioneers Lodge was fully staffed and occupied with already a waiting list.
1997 > The Pioneers Lodge had always been an independent, very successful organization but initially it contracted a wide range of services from the Griffith Base Hospital including management, clerical, maintenance, linen and food services.
The arrangement served both organizations well until 1997, when the newly formed Area Health Service decided to centralize and rationalize many of its services to concentrate on its “core services”.
1997 also saw the introduction of a radical funding system for Aged Care. The “deficit funding system” was replaced by a new system which funded Aged Care providers according to the care needs of their residents. The subsidy provided had an inbuilt profit margin which was meant to fund future capital needs.
With the introduction of the new funding system the Commonwealth Government also announced that new building standards for aged care would apply by 2008. Aged Care providers were put on notice that they had 10 years to meet these standards or leave the industry.
2006-2008 > The above new funding system served The Pioneers Lodge well and the Board of Directors moved to purchase 2.75 hectares of land at 15-23 Sidlow Road, Griffith and build as a start, a brand new 75 bed facility with ample room and associated support infrastructures for the possibility of future expansion, to include additional beds as well as the possibility of Assisted Living and Independent Living Units as finances permitted. Architect Mr Mark Boffa of Boffa Robertson Group was selected to design and manage the building project. Local builders Forlico Builders of Griffith was awarded the contract to build the new facility. The project was funded from Accumulated funds, Accommodation Bonds, Donations and a bank loan and came in on time and on budget at approx $16.4M. Building commenced in December 2006 and the project was completed by July 2008 and opened on 26th August 2008 by Mr Stuart McWilliam and again, fully occupied and staffed.
2016 > 2017 brought about many new exciting updated changes and additions to The Pioneers Lodge. Architect Mr Mark Boffa of Boffa Robertson Group was again selected to design and manage the latest building project with local builders Forlico Builders of Griffith again awarded the contract to undertake the new changes and additions. New beds were made available through various extensions. The Settlers unit opened with 16 new beds available in the new high care dementia unit. Extensions to the Mackay West Wing went ahead with 7 extra beds as well as extensions to the unit’s dining and lounge areas coupled with a renovation of the servery. The new Gymnasium opened up as an exercising area for residents and complimentary Wi-Fi became available throughout the Facility. The project was completed and opened on 26th August 2017 by the President & Chair of the Board of Directors, Darryl Baltieri. In November 2017 The Pioneers Lodge opened its own laundry on site. This is to ensure all residents’ personal clothing is given the appropriate care and attention and returned to residents’ rooms in a timely manner.
