Our story
History of the Ryder-Cheshire Mount Gambier Homes
Ryder
Our first home, now known as Ryder, was officially opened in April 2006 and was the first South Australian Ryder-Cheshire home.
The opening was the fruition of many years work by the Ryder-Cheshire Mount Gambier Home Board, the Mount Gambier Ryder-Cheshire Support Group and the local community. Planning for the home started in about 2003.
Funding came from a number of sources, principally Ryder-Cheshire Australia, together with the Ryder-Cheshire Foundation (SA), the Federal Government Regional Partnerships program and a bank loan that was fully paid off in June 2010. Land for the home was donated by the City of Mount Gambier.
The home won a SA Great Community Award in 2007 and received a KESAB commendation in 2008.
Cheshire
The Ryder-Cheshire Mount Gambier Home Foundation built Cheshire, alongside Ryder, in 2018 in response to the need to provide more accommodation.
The federal government's Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) provided nearly 50% of the cost of the build, but the application could not have proceeded without generous donations from Ryder-Cheshire Australia, the Ryder-Cheshire Support Group at Singleton, NSW, Ryder-Cheshire SA, the Evans Family Trust, Rotary Club of Mount Gambier West and other supporters.
The home was completed in November 2018 but delays involving the National Disability Insurance Agency meant it was not fully occupied until early in 2021.