Masons move to save Bourke aged care hostel

One of New South Wales' biggest charities has stepped in to save Bourke's aged care hostel which was on the verge of closure.

The River Gum Lodge will be taken over by the Frank Whiddon Masonic Homes of NSW in partnership with the Bourke Care of the Aged Committee.

The community-based committee has run the 12-bed hostel since it opened in 1993.

The chief executive of the Whiddon Group, Robert Hillier, says it is part of the masons' ethos to do charitable work.

"It was an opportune time to help a small organisation and help Bourke itself to maintain its aged care facility because the next one's down at Nyngan, the other one's at Cobar and Collarenebri, which is a long way away for the people of Bourke and Bourke needed an aged care facility," he said.

The local committee's chairman, Trevor Randall, says the agreement which was signed yesterday is a wonderful outcome for the community.

"We're looking at going from a point where possible closure, no hostel service for people in Bourke to linking up with people who have expertise, who have experience, they can do the job better than us," he said.

"The place will just keep operating and the service will still be here for the Bourke community, it's just great news."

Mr Randall says the facility has struggled since it opened because of a lack of Commonwealth support.

"They supposedly fund these places for aged people, they're supposedly looking after them but they've never funded us properly since the day we opened," he said.

"We've just gone from one disaster to another and it's got to the point where a few weeks ago, probably even months ago, where we realised we were heading for liquidation."

Mr Hillier says the Whiddon Group plans to renovate the hostel and enhance aged care services.

"With the assistance of the Commonwealth we're going to bring also with us six aged care packages which will help people age in their homes and therefore when it comes to go into a facility then those people will be able to come straight into the facility as well," he said.

The Whiddon Group has started advertising for registered nurses, casual carers and an administration assistant.