Members

Welcome members. This is a relatively brief report of the activities of Medi-Aid Centre Foundation for 2019. We wish to keep the Committee and Members conversant with our current activities. Overview – Medi-Aid Centre Foundation continues to make excellent progress.

Unit Purchases

During the year we have purchased a further 9 units on the Gold Coast. David has been visiting regularly to inspect our current units and liaise with Ocean Blue Real Estate.

We now have 230 units on the Gold Coast for Assisted Housing.

Firm Financial Position

Medi Aid is in a very sound financial position. It has large reserves on TDs with the NAB.

These reserves are allocated to

• Cover any unexpected refunds to residents

• Eventually build approximately 33 units in Chatswood for assisted housing

• Further purchases on the Gold Coast

Robyn keeps all Medi-Aid financials in excellent order. Available for inspection at the office at any time by Committee Members.

Operations

David and Robyn, the Joint CEOs operate the village, plus all our satellite residential units strictly and satisfactorily. Sandy (Ackland) is the Medi-Aid Activities Co-ordinator and provides special events weekly for residents.

Village Managers Steve and Liz and John and Lauren operate Vimiera and Kooloora Villages efficiently and cheerfully. I thank all Medi-Aid staff for their dedication and loyalty to the residents in particular. Vimiera Village operates with clockwork precision.

As I have now moved into an assisted Living unit, I can now realise how wonderful the attention and service is. I simply cannot believe the high level of care, and love and attention residents receive from the dedicated staff. It is far above any expectations I had and I thank them from the bottom of my heart.

K G Hurst Real Estate, Ocean Blue Realty and Blakelys Real Estate operate all the rental accommodation and rental properties. Special thanks to Ocean Blue in Queensland for their help in screening and accommodating our elderly financially disadvantaged residents. David has also been liaising with Lyn at K G Hurst to inspect all of Medi-Aid’s properties in Sydney.

Cataract Project

Medi-Aid still provides IOLs (for severe cataract). To date, since commencing the project in 2012, Medi Aid has completed 626 eyeballs. It has also paid out over $1.5 million for the services. Dr Geoffrey Painter at Gordon Eye Surgery and Dr Gagan Khannah of Eastwood Eye Clinic carry out a regular list.

The patients are all elderly persons with severe cataracts and no money. Instead of facing a 2-3 year wait in the public hospital system, Medi-Aid can have them carried out within two weeks at no cost to them.

Recently I went to Gordon Eye Surgery to undergo treatment for Macular Degeneration and Dr Geoffrey introduced the current Registrar and they thanked us profusely for the generous contribution by Medi-Aid to their program. Currently we are providing $200,000.00 pa.

Doctor Visits

Thank you to the Medical Committee for visiting our eldest residents and reporting on their condition. Dr Carolyn visited seven residents in Panorama Towers and one in Equinox. Tom Aldous, the eldest is 95 years old and is coping well.

Dr Geoff visited one resident in Surfers International and one in Surfers Chateau, 85 and 86 years old respectively.

New Initiatives

The two CEOs and Chairman have been investigating the possibility of expanding our Sydney platform. Medi Aid owns considerable land at Chatswood, adjacent to blocks of flats it owns. Discussion with Willoughby Council indicates the possibility of lodging a DA for permission to erect further units on this site. This is ongoing.

Since our last meeting, Medi-Aid has purchased 574 Pacific Highway Chatswood for approx. $5.6 million. This is next door to a block already owned by Medi-Aid. Discussions with Council are proceeding.

Also, Medi Aid owns land at Parramatta. There is the possibility of further development here also. It is being investigated in conjunction with “Augusta”, who assists in developmental ideas. (They brokered the sale of our Melaleuca Sale). It is being pursued gently, as Parramatta City Council has grandiose ideas for the city, and we wish to capitalise on their ideas.

Dr John F Knight AM
NSW Senior Australian of the Year 2017
Chairman and Founder