Kellock Lodge. Photo: www.kellocklodge.org.au

A PUBLIC MEETING over the future of Kellock Lodge is to be held at the Alexandra Shire Hall this Friday (June 22) at 11am.
Local organisers say that the Anglican Diocese of Wangaratta wants to take over Kellock Lodge – and its cash reserves of about $6 million.
At the centre of the fight is Anglican Bishop John Parkes, based at Wangaratta.
Opponents of the proposal say that the move to take control of the Kellock Lodge Residential Aged Care centre are to prop up the financially troubled St John’s Village at Wangaratta.
St John’s Village hit the headlines late last year after a deadly flu outbreak.
Ten residents of St John’s Village at Wangaratta died during a flu outbreak in August and September.
An audit by the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency found the facility failed to meet 12 of the 44 accreditation standards.
At the time an investigation found that St John’s Village had serious management failures and inadequate infection control.
Bishop Parkes, who is also St John’s Village chairman, was quoted by the ABC to say the staff did an incredible job under very difficult circumstances.
Local volunteers are concerned that problems from Wangaratta might come to Alex andra if the diocese is allowed to take over Kellock Lodge.
They are concerned that the millions of dollars of cash reserves, raised in Alexandra since the 1980s, will be swiftly moved from the local area if the takeover is permitted to go ahead.
Kellock Lodge was created in the 1980s when a group of local people were keen to set up a facility for local aged people.
The Kellock family donated the land for the facility in the 1980s, with the local St John’s Anglican Church acting as trustee.
All funds for the construction and running of the Lodge were raised in the Alexandra region.
The Diocese is said to have provided no funds for Kellock Lodge over the decades.
Kellock Lodge has continued to expand, with aged care hostel facilities extended to provide for the bedridden.
Kellock Lodge has a reputation for being well run. It is run by a committeeof volunteers, with respected community identity John Sharwood in the position as Chairman.
• The Local Paper approached Bishop Parkes’s office at Wangaratta on Friday (June 15) for comment. Bishop Parkes had not returned the call when we went to press.

BATTLE WITH
THE BISHOP
A fight within the Anglican Church might see control of Alexandra’s Kellock Lodge be grasped by the Wang-aratta diocese.
Bishop John Parkes began training for ordination in 1986 and was previously an assistant bishop in the Diocese of Brisbane.
He also served as rector of All Saints’ Church in Ainslie and was also a former barrister where he served on the General Synod Standing Committee.

UNHOLY WAR:
KELLOCK LODGE SHOWDOWN
A public meeting has been called for 11am this Friday (June 22) to discuss the future of Alexandra’s Kellock Lodge.
The Anglican Church’s Diocese of Wangaratta issued a statement on Monday, outlining plans for the aged care facility.
The statement appeared above the signature of Bishop John Parkes, who is a Director of Kellock Lodge.
He says his opinion is shared by a majority of other Kellock Lodge directors, naming them as Graeme Brown, Ian Davis, Ann Hunter and Heather McLaren.
The open letter to the community states:
“I write as a Director of Kellock Lodge and as the Chair of the Trustees of the Anglican Diocese of Wangaratta, which is Kellock Lodge’s Approved Provider under the Aged Care Act 1997.
“Kellock Lodge is a valued community asset, and it is important that the community has accurate information about the Trustees’ wish to strengthen its capacity to provide quality care by putting in place a new governing board.
“The most important thing for the community to know is that the prime concern of the Trustees is those in the care of Kellock Lodge – our seniors and some of our most vulnerable and aged – and those in the community who need will need quality care in the future.
“It is no secret that Kellock Lodge has faced recent challenges. For example, earlier this year it was found to be non-compliant with seven critical expected outcomes under the Federal Government’s quality framework, including critical care, medication management and nutrition and hydration.
“This and other issues have compelled the Trustees to act in the best interests of the elderly who rely on Kellock Lodge for care.
“We commissioned an independent review by leading industry experts to look into Kellock Lodge’s governance, finances and operations.
“A key recommendation of the review is a new governance structure – one incorporated association and one board of directors for the Diocese’s homes, Kellock Lodge and St John’s Village in Wangaratta.
“The Trustees accept this advice, and hope that in the coming weeks the members of the existing Kellock Lodge and St John’s Village Incorporated associations will endorse the proposal.
“We believe that the long-term best interests of Kellock Lodge’s residents and staff will be best served by creating a new professional board with specialist aged care and health care expertise to oversee both homes.
“This would include some directors from both homes’ current boards.
“With strengthened governance and operational resources, Kellock Lodge and Str John’s Village will be well placed to meet the challenges of providing quality care in an increasingly compex and competitive aged care environment.
“If the members endorse the proposed governance changes the role of the Diocese as the Approved Provider under the aged care legislation would not change.
“The facility’s name would remain Kellock Lodge and its future as a much loved community asset would not change.
“Importantly, a new governance structure would not affect the security of tenure, bonds and fees of aged care residents and independent living unit owners, as agreements would not change.
“Staff entitlements and employment conditions would remain unchanged under the existing Staff Enterprise Ageement.
“You may have heard claims about the motivations of the Trustees.
“These include the allegation that we want to appropriate the assets of Kellock Lodge for St John’s Village.
“The independent review undertaken included comprehensive financial modelling which showed both Kellock Lodge and St John’s Village would be strengthened by coming together.
“The basis of allegations in relation to assets is the different accounting practices used by Kellock Lodge and St John’s Village.
“Because of this, at first glance, St John’s Village, may appear to be less financially robust.
“But I can assure the community that the auditors have verified that St John’s Village has significant assets and more than enough funds to meet commitments such as bond refunds.
“In short – the Trustees do not want on need to take the assets of Kellock Lodge for the benefit of St John’s Village.
“I am happy to go through the accounts of St John’s Village with
any community member who has a concern.
“I am heartened by the support of the staff who have worked tirelessly yto make operational improvements, residents, the majority of Kellock Lodge board and others in the Alexandra community.
“I have every confidence that the changes we are seeking to put in place will be the beginning of a new era for Kellock Lodge, safeguarding and ensuring that it can continue to provide quality care for the elderly of Alexandra and surrounding regions into the future.”
The letter is signed by ‘The Rt. Revd. John Parkes AM’, as ‘Bishop of Wangaratta; Chair of the Trustees of the Anglican Diocese of Wangaratta; Director, Kellock Lodge.”

SPECULATION,
SAYS BISHOP

Anglican Bishop John Parkes, in a letter to kellock Lodge residents on Monday (June 18), says there is “speculation in the community” aboy the the facility.
“The Trustees understand that Kellock Lodge is a valued community asset. We believe it is important that the community has accurate information about why we are seeking to strengthen its capacity to provide quality care by putting in place a new governing board.
“The Trustees believe that the long-term best interest of Kellock Lodge’s residents and staff will be best served by creating a new professional board with specialist aged vare and health care expertise to oversee both of the Diocese’s homes, Kellock Lodge and St John’s Village in Wangaratta,” Bishop Parkes said.