Guest speaker Sonia Fingleton, Accommodation manager at Chisholm cottage, Westmead hospital, sydney

On the 13th March 2018 meeting, we welcomed Sonia Fingleton to our Club as its guest speaker. Sonia is the Accommodation Manager at Chisholm Cottage and a Rotarian with the Rotary Club of Parramatta.

Chisholm Cottage is a Sisters of Charity Outreach’s affordable, short term, shared accommodation service for regional NSW families needing to stay in Sydney for medical services and hospital stays.

The recently refurbished Chisholm Cottage now offers four, separate, secure bedrooms – a double room, a twin room (two single beds), and two, family rooms (for three people). Guests share two, easy-access bathrooms and a fully functional communal kitchen and relaxing TV lounge, where they can prepare their own meals (food self-supplied), enjoy the company of other guests and staff, and access free Wi-Fi.

The property has been re-furnished, thanks to leading Australian online furniture and homewares retailer Temple & Webster who provided all-new, contemporary lounges, beds, bedding and accessories.

Sonia also spoke about the link between Chisholm Cottage and Country Care Link, the Sisters of Charity Outreach’s no-cost transport service for those travelling to medical appointments within Sydney.

This transport service is wholly-provided by volunteers, and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week for country families who are accessing health services in Sydney.

This service eases the extra burden of trying to find a way of travelling between the airport, railway stations, bus stops and medical appointments.

Ross provided the vote of thanks to Sonia for her very enthusiastic, informative and passionate presentation.