Cooinda aged care held a special opening for its new 28-room Ledger Wing on Saturday.
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Board members past and present joined residents, staff, State Member for Euroa Steph Ryan, Mayor Scott Upston and Benalla Rural City councillors to celebrate the opening.
Bush poet and resident Mr Roderick Williams performed two original poems at the event to the delight of those in attendance.
Tours of the new facility were provided and a barbecue kept everybody well fed - even though the weather forced proceedings inside.
The wing was officially opened by Robyn Sutton, great-niece of philanthropist and former Cooinda resident Laurie Ledger, whose name it carries.
“Our family is extremely proud of uncle Laurie and his generosity to Benalla,” Ms Sutton said.
“Laurie died 27 years ago but the Ledger charitable trust is still in position to periodically support important projects, such as Cooinda's new Ledger Wing.
“As our population ages and becomes more frail it is important for communities to offer quality residential aged-care.
“A well-designed physical setting is a vital part of this.
“Laurie would have been thrilled to be supporting the establishment of such a lovely and modern aged-care facility, which provides a strong marker of a caring community and enables people to remain closely connected with their loved ones
“On behalf of the family I'm thrilled to be able to declare this new Ledger Wing officially open.”