Local History
Our Ronald McDonald House Central West NSW Story
Our Ronald McDonald House Central West NSW Story
Ronald McDonald House Central West in Orange opened for our first families in April 2015. However, the journey of the House in Orange began 10 years prior when Joanne and Geoff Lewis, then licensee of McDonalds in Orange, worked with the community to garner support to build a house in the Central West.
Prior to the house opening, there was a a critical shortage of accommodation for families attending the Orange Hospital either with a sick or injured child, or for women experiencing high risk pregnancy.
Families had to sleep in chairs by the bedside of their child at the hospital, in their cars, in commercial accommodation, or split up between home and relatives in the Central West.
The Ronald McDonald House in Orange supports the following local hospitals and services:
The role of each of the Hospitals in Orange is growing, as is the need for Ronald McDonald House Central West.
The House in Orange is situated on a beautiful site, adjacent to the hospital, and is surrounded by open green space and established trees.
Our purpose is to keep families together and close to the health care that their child needs, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
The success of the house continues to be made possible with thanks to the many supporters who have supported us, from individuals, businesses and corporates, community groups.
Read John Cobb MP’s speech about the opening of Ronald McDonald House Central West, given to the Parliament of Australia on 15th October 2015.
Joanne and Geoff Lewis have been honoured with Life Membership by the board of Ronald McDonald House Charities Central West.
It is now almost 20 years since the couple first discussed the possibility of providing a place close to Orange’s hospital where families could stay close to their child.
“Quite simply, there would not be a Ronald McDonald House located in Orange if it wasn’t for the untiring efforts of Joanne and Geoff,” said RMHC Central West Board Chairman Tim Leahey.
“While we have had many wonderful supporters and sponsors along the way, it was their vision, passion and dedication – putting in countless hours of their own time and energy which made the house in Orange a reality,” he said.
Both Mr and Mrs Lewis have both served on the board since it was first established with Joanne Lewis serving as board chair for several years.
“When Geoff and I owned the McDonald’s Restaurants in Bathurst and Orange we would regularly have parents with sick children stop in who had to take them to Sydney for treatment,” Mrs Lewis said.
Malcolm Coutts who worked closely with the Lewis’ during the initial consultation phase has high praise for the couple.
“It was Joanne in particular with her passion and determination who steered the national organisation of RMHC on a journey to build the Orange house,” Mr Coutts said.
Geoff Lewis said the plans to relocate from the old Orange Base Hospital to a state of the art facility on Forest Road in 2011 provided the perfect synergy and momentum for the community to get behind fund raising for the required $5 million to build a Ronald McDonald House close to the hospital.
Mr Lewis made an invaluable contribution to the building of the new house as the conduit between the board, designers and builders to ensure the new house would be a perfect layout. Mrs Lewis ‘hit the road’ travelling thousands of kilometres to communities throughout the Central and Far West to garner support.
“The whole time we were spurred on by the incredible generosity of the community and the stories we were continuing to hear about hardship for families sleeping in their cars close to Orange hospital or travelling long distances back and forward to be close to their sick child,” said Mr Lewis.
Parents don’t know when their children will need medical help. But they should know they can always access the care they need. And with your help, we can support them all throughout their journey.
