The opening of this respite facility has been the result of nine years of maintaining a vision, of dedication and resourcefulness – a monumental achievement by parents who themselves are carers.

The opening of this facility will mean support for many families who have struggled to find relief from caring – just a day or an evening free of the constant demand of caring for their loved ones is a wonderful gift.

This facility can also become a stepping-stone for people to move on towards a more independent life beyond the care of their parents.

I also must congratulate the Castlemaine community for their support of this project.

From the start, many local community groups have thrown themselves into supporting and raising funds toward the project, with a result that will benefit the wider community of Castlemaine for years to come.  

We wish MASARG well with their next project of creating a permanent place to live where people can be independent of their ageing parents, but able to receive the support they need to live well.

Quality Living Options Bendigo has a similar project.

We represent over 50 Bendigo families with the need to find a place where they can live well beyond the care of their parents.

The shortage of appropriate accommodation in Bendigo for our adults with an intellectual disability means that we need to find our own answers.

For close to five years we have been working toward creating this dream.

As ageing parents, it is a constant worry and we devote much of our time to educating the Bendigo community as to the need for creating a place to call home where our sons and daughters will be safe, secure and supported well into the future.

The approach of the National Disability Insurance Scheme will bring much-needed funds for the care of our adults, but no funds for building more places where that care will take place.  

We would welcome offers of assistance from community groups and individuals who can offer support to our cause.

Go to www.qlo.org.au for more information.

I am researching my family tree and am sending you this email in the hope that you would be kind enough to put an appeal in your newspaper for any relatives or friends of the late Laura McGregor to contact me.

Laura was born Laura Annie Ruth Rockett at 31 Golborne Road, Kensington, London, UK on February 14, 1897 to Edward Walter Rockett and his wife Hannah (nee Butchers).

She was the third of six children born to the couple.

Laura married Lachlan Charles Henry McGregor who was born June 26, 1891 in Williamstown, Victoria on September 19, 1917 in Grantham, Lincolnshire, UK.

After World War One she came to Australia on a bride ship. 

Laura died on April 22,1980 in Bendigo aged 83, and Lachlan died on September 14, 1982 in Boort aged 91.

We know the couple had at least two sons, Frederick Roy 1920-1976 and Donald born in 1931.

I am hoping that family members in Australia will be able to fill in some of the gaps that I have.

I am particularly interested in what happened to Laura's father, Edward Walter, as he seems to have disappeared without trace after 1901.

I can be reached on kez.croft88@hotmail.co.uk.