By Michael Newhouse
MEMBERS of a Sunshine seniors group are furious after being told they have less than a month to move out of their home of almost 50 years.
The Sunshine Senior Citizens Club has been given until 21 May to leave its premises at Lions House, on the corner of Watt and Corio streets, Sunshine, after the building’s owners decided the building was unsafe and unsuitable for seniors.
Brimbank City Council and the seniors club are amazed at the hasty decision to move the club out of its home.
The building is owned by the Lions Club, who have leased it to Brimbank City Council, which then allows the seniors to use the facilities.
The long-term lease between the Lions and council officially ran out years ago, and now the Lions Club of Sunshine has written to council advising that the club had no alternative but to terminate the club’s tenancy on safety grounds.
The Lions Club of Sunshine commissioned its own engineering report into the building, providing the report’s results together with a fire safety report to council as proof that the building was unsafe.
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Seniors club secretary John Boles was furious during a meeting of club members held last Wednesday to discuss the future of the Sunshine seniors.
“Not once has the Lions Club of Sunshine come to us and spoken to us. They’ve got the council to do the dirty work for them,” he said.
One elderly member at the meeting went even further.
“All I will say is that I will never support the Lions in anyway whatsoever,” she yelled from the floor.
There has been some suggestion that the Lions Club were preparing to make way for the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa to move in – a suggestion denied by the church’s Pastor Samani Sali.
“We’re not moving out of where we’re worshipping at the moment, and we have no intention of going into the Lions Club,” Mr Sali said last week. “I did have a look at the place and it’s not suitable.”
Star understands council is very disappointed at the Lions Club’s decision, although council’s hands are tied because it does not own the building.
In a letter to Lions Club Secretary Jeff O’Donnell, Brimbank CEO Marilyn Duncan echoes her concern at the short notice given for the club to vacate the premises as well as the eviction decision.
“It was disappointing to receive your letter advising council of the eviction of the Senior Citizens’ Club from the Lions Club facility at the close of business on 21 May, 2007,” Ms Duncan writes in the letter.
“It is regretful that the Lions Club has taken this action,” she concludes.
A council spokesperson confirmed it was the “owner’s decision” to evict the club, but said council has worked to secure a new home for the seniors at Dempster Park Hall, in Phoenix St, Sunshine North.
Council has also asked the club for an extension of time for the seniors to move out, but had not received a response when Star went to print.
Lions Club of Sunshine president Chris Detlefsen insisted it was council’s decision to move the club out, since the lease was officially between council and the seniors club.
Asked what would happen to the soon-to-be-vacant rooms, Mr Detlefsen said the club would decide soon.
He said the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa would not be moving in because the building had been considered unsafe.
Mr Detlefsen could not say whether the building and land would be sold.
“I don’t know what the club decides in the future,” he said.
