As part of special recognitions and awards for Australia Day, Stroud Community Lodge has received a Mayoral award from Great Lakes Council.

The Mayor’s awards recognise local groups which have contributed significantly to the community each year in the Great Lakes.

This year they honoured the great service of the residential aged care facilities which provide high, low and dementia care within the Great Lakes local government area.

In presenting the award to lodge chairman John Bowen, Mayor Jan Williams said small community aged care facilities are often an important social link with residents who have long term ties with the community and its people.

“Stroud Community Lodge provides high quality and personalised specialised aged care for Stroud’s senior residents,” Cr Williams said.

“We congratulate the lodge on this achievement.”

Stroud Community Lodge opened its doors in 1990 with 12 beds.

Today it has grown with 31 residents and is also Stroud’s largest employer with a total of 31 staff.

In receiving the award Mr Bowen said it was wonderful for someone to recognise the importance of the lodge to Stroud.

“It is only a small facility but completely owned by the community,” he said.

“I’m pretty chuffed about it [the award].

“It’s great to be recognised.”

Mr Bowen attended the ceremony last Thursday along with lodge residents, three board members and five friends of the lodge.

Mr Bowen was the inaugural chairman, elected in 1985 by the Lions Club of Stroud to investigate the construction of an aged care facility.

“It took five years of fundraising before it was finally opened in 1990,” Mr Bowen said.

“It was extended in 1995 with an additional four rooms and then in 2010 six more bedrooms were added.

“The Stroud community is very proud of this facility.”