Doors open at Hawthorn House’s new $2 million overnight dementia respite facility to service Great Southern

A new $2 million respite centre at Hawthorn House for people living with dementia in the Great Southern was opened on Friday, doubling the facility’s capacity for overnight respite care. The facility is named Don’s Cottage in honour of Don Brandenburg, a Newdegate man who retired to Denmark in 2005, who set up a foundation in his name to invest and distribute money from his estate to groups or organisations in the Great Southern. Since his death in 2015, the Don Brandenburg Foundation has invested $3.5 million in the Great Southern. Darral Bennett, Mr Brandenburg’s nephew and foundation secretary, said he decided to donate money to Hawthorn House after meeting house manager Lorraine Benson. “I looked around Albany and surrounding towns for possible organisations or groups that may need funding,” he said. “Whilst driving along Henry Street one day, Helen said ‘why not drop into Hawthorn House?’, and so we met with Lorraine and got into discussions.” Construction of Don’s Cottage was announced in 2022 and began in 2023 before being officially opened on Friday. In addition to the additional respite facility, a yarning circle was installed at Hawthorn House as a culturally significant meeting place, collaboratively designed with traditional elders and Illumina Design. Alzheimer’s WA chair Professor Warren Harding AM said dementia was a “pressing issue” for the Great Southern given its ageing population. “With the increasing focus of State and Federal healthcare systems on acute care, greater ED diversions, shortage of aged care, it is our collective responsibility to provide care in the community and to improve the lives of those living with dementia and their families,” he said. Professor Harding said each bedroom had been created to provide a home-like atmosphere that “promotes dignity and independence”. “This new facility not only doubles our capacity for overnight respite care but also introduces a new model of care, with double bedrooms for both client and carer that will undoubtedly be in high demand in the Great Southern region,” he said.