In early 1988, Henry prepared a submission to the federal government applying funding for the purchase of the Croydon elderly hostel. Funding was approved within a short period, and it was exciting news for all. Unfortunately, Henry was diagnosed with Meniere’s disease at the time.
With Henry’s sickness, the liaising work with the government regarding the project was stalled. While Chinese Youth League was supposed to be playing the leading role had organized a charity walk titled “Eighty Thousand March” in April 1988 to raise funds, their main efforts were on the “Dragon Down Under” concert to celebrate the Bicentenary Anniversary of Australia. There was thus nobody following up with the government regarding the funding.
By October 1988, the Department asked if EACH was still interested in purchasing the elderly hostel. The EACH Board held an urgent meeting to discuss the matter. However, there were differences in opinions regarding the development of the service. Some felt that the two buildings were too old and preferred to build a new facility. Others felt that without experience, it would be better to operate an existing facility and pursue other plans after accumulating experience.
After learning that the organisation’s attitude was diverging from its founding aims, the Department was not happy and gave an ultimatum. If there was no resolution on the project soon, the funding would be withdrawn.
Some board members felt it was difficult to continue with the project but at the same time did not want to give up the funding. It dragged on for some time without any decision.
Facing the dilemma, some board members felt the only way out was to ask our Society to take over the project. In January 1989, Henry’s medical condition had improved. He was still the Chairperson of our Society at the time. Certain longstanding friends visited him at his home to persuade the Society to take over the elderly hostel project and not losing the huge amount of funding.
Henry called an emergency Board meeting of our Society. Board members considered the situation thoroughly and agreed to take over the project in order to keep the government funding.
Board members unanimously agreed that the government funding of $300,000 was a precious opportunity. However, the Society had to find $150,000 immediately to purchase the property. This was a huge obstacle. How could this problem be solved?
Henry suggested that the 3 organizations were to share the responsibility by lending money to EACH for the elderly project. $50,000 was lent by Chinese Youth League, $50,000 by our Society and $40,000 by Sydney Chinese School. With this agreement, our Society took over the project.
Following our Society taking over the project, there were changes to the composition of the Board of EACH. From the original ratio of 3:2:2 of Chinese Youth League: Sydney Chinese School: the Society, it became 2:1:4. The Society had the greatest number of representatives on the Board. Apart from Henry and Dr. Cecilia Fong, there were another 2 representatives of our Society.
At the time, the goal was focused purely on the provision of elderly services for the community. There were no other thoughts. Everything was kept in its original arrangement. The project was promoted as an initiative of the “Elderly Australian Chinese Homes Co-operative Ltd” (EACH).
🤔 Could the EACH project proceed smoothly? Stay tuned for the next article!