General News
13 July, 2023
Maryborough Benevolent Society to cease operations after 154 years
After decades of serving the community, the Maryborough Ladies Benevolent Society are closing their chapter in the town, including donating its independent living units to Asteria Services — with current tenants assured their living arrangements...
After decades of serving the community, the MaryboroughBenevolent Society are closing their chapter in the town, including donating its independent living units to Asteria Services — with current tenants assured their living arrangements will not be changed.
The volunteer-run society was founded in 1869, just 15 years after Maryborough was declared a township, and now after 154 years the group has announced its plans to cease operations.
The society first provided food and clothing to the community before it began providing affordable and secure housing for residents in need.
As part of the closure, the Benevolent Society has handed ownership of its 26 units (known as Isabella Warton Place) to Maryborough’s not-for-profit disability organisation Asteria Services.
The Maryborough units have provided affordable, secure housing to the elderly and those in need since they were first built in the 1960s.
There was some concern among Warton Place residents over the change in management during the week, after they received a letter on Tuesday notifying them of the handover which would be effective immediately.
Dorothy Allen, who’s lived in her unit for three years, said the letters were the only notification residents received regarding a changeover, and it was unclear what Asteria would do with the units.
“We have a guarantee of staying here until we die and some of us have paid a lot of money to live here,” she said.
“We feel like we’ve been left up in the air — we have no housing security and we don’t know if the contracts that are in place will be honoured.
“Security of housing is a big thing for older people and it’s a horrible feeling not knowing if you’ll have a roof over your head.”
Another resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said the changeover had been handled poorly.
“The way this has been handled is poor, the letter is the first we knew of this and if there’s no change for residents then why wasn’t that communicated? Why was it left so late?” they said.
Both the Benevolent Society and Asteria have reassured residents the changeover will honour existing contracts and that residents will continue to be supported in their housing.
The society’s Margaret Harrison said Asteria couldn’t be a better successor to the Isabella Warton Place units.
“Asteria have similar values to ours and it’s an ideal situation — the outcome could not be any better,” she said.
“I’d like to assure the residents that they will still have a home for the rest of their lives, nothing will change, this is just a new chapter for Isabella Warton Place.”
Asteria’s CEO Annie Constable said the organisation would provide a continuity of service to residents.
“Asteria is excited about the future of Isabella Warton Place and the opportunity of taking this asset on,” she said.
“Isabella Warton Place is more than a community asset, it’s a community within itself.
“We will provide a continuity of service to the existing residents living there — we want this handover to be as seamless as possible and look forward to continuing the legacy of the Benevolent Society.
“The work of the Benevolent Society and the dedicated ladies on that committee has positively impacted the lives of so many in this community.”
The Advertiser understands residents received a letter from Asteria on Wednesday afternoon stating there would be a rent increase and occupancy agreements would be reviewed as part of the changeover.
“The rental increase had been paused during the pandemic and the Benevolent Society held off instigating that until the changeover had taken place,” Ms Constable said.
“It is standard practice and due dilligence that we undertake a review of the occupancy agreements as part of this changeover process for audit purposes, it is standard procedure.”
More to come in next week’s Advertiser.