{"id":348092,"date":"2024-05-14T17:56:02","date_gmt":"2024-05-14T07:56:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=348092"},"modified":"2025-04-08T13:31:32","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T03:31:32","slug":"group-gets-keys-to-old-church","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2024\/05\/14\/group-gets-keys-to-old-church\/","title":{"rendered":"Group Gets Keys To Old Church"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Kilkivan & District Community Care president Rosie Fitzgerald and treasurer Lyn Sempf with the keys to the former St Kevin\u2019s Church (Photo: KDCCAI)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

May 14, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kilkivan and District Community Care Association (KDCCAI) has taken control of the 100-year-old former St Kevin’s Catholic Church but has described it as “a bittersweet victory”.<\/p>\n

KDCCAI president Rosie Fitzgerald said Monday was “auspicious” when the keys were handed over but that any celebration was clouded by uncertainty, frustration and a tinge of regret.<\/p>\n

The old timber building is located at 1 Church Street.<\/p>\n

It hosted its last Mass in October last year before a large congregation of past and present Kilkivan residents.<\/p>\n

The church is surrounded by land owned by Gympie Regional Council tentatively earmarked for Kilkivan’s “ageing in place” project.<\/p>\n

For four years, the KDCCAI has pushed for a “Rise and Shine” project that would provide accessible rental homes and a share house for seniors on the land.<\/p>\n

“We strongly felt the iconic church property could be perfect for a community centre and maybe an enterprise such as an art gallery or coffee shop; lots of options that would fit perfectly with our vision,” Ms Fitzgerald said.<\/p>\n

The KDCCAI negotiated the purchase and immediately began a fundraising drive to pay for it.<\/p>\n

But, despite monthly bingo nights and some generous benefactors donating to a GoFundMe campaign, the target is still 75 per cent short of being met.<\/p>\n

The group has been given a loan to cover the balance.<\/p>\n

The KDCCAI believes the campaign\u2019s slow start could be due to the collective memory that St Kevin\u2019s was originally built and furnished by community donations.<\/strong><\/p>\n

However, finding financial support to buy the church is not the only source of concern and frustration for the group.<\/p>\n

“Our integrated Rise and Shine project is addressing huge gaps in services and infrastructure that mean local people have had to leave their homes and community prematurely,” Ms Fitzgerald said.<\/p>\n

“It’s astonishing that, in a political and economic climate loaded with policy and rhetoric about supporting the ageing population and providing appropriate place-based housing that is within reach of people on all income levels that our innovative concept is not attracting funding and partnerships.”<\/p>\n

KDCCAI has already set up Kilkivan Care, which co-ordinates home care packages using local support workers to more than 30 clients in Kilkivan, Tansey, Woolooga and Goomeri.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It has also raised funds to buy a bus for community transport, publishes a local newsletter and conducts a senior\u2019s social hub program.<\/p>\n

“Our members and the general community are happy and relieved St Kevin\u2019s won\u2019t be demolished or moved away, and we will be marking the (handover) day with a small celebration,” Ms Fitzgerald said.<\/p>\n

“We are humbled and grateful for the generous donations to date and the sentiment of goodwill around the project keeps our spirits buoyant.<\/p>\n

“Holding the keys to St Kevin\u2019s is a tentative step towards a vision that I know is shared by many small rural communities throughout the country, to keep our loved ones close, safe and content.”<\/p>\n

Related articles:<\/strong><\/p>\n