King of the charity castle

By Paul Dunlop
A NEW house will be built and sold in Pakenham as a charity fundraiser.
Victorian home builder JG King announced last week it would construct and auction an executive-style home in a bid to raise up to $100,000 for Oz Child’s new Pakenham program.
Oz Child is setting up at Services Central, Cardinia Shire’s newly-refurbished community and social services complex in Henry Street.
JG King will build the home, in the Falling Waters Estate off Army Road, at cost for auction in mid-2006.
Suppliers and contractors will donate materials and services or provide them at cost.
JG King’s general manager of housing Tony Gilbert said the home will feature four bedrooms, a study and an alfresco living area.
“JG King Homes is a family business with strong community values and we’ve been a major sponsor of Oz Child for a number of years,” Mr Gilbert said.
“We’re pleased to coordinate this project and build a home to raise funds for Oz Child’s child welfare services.”
Oz Child will offer four types of services at Services Central, which was officially opened on Friday by deputy Premier John Thwaites.
Oz Child chief executive officer Tony Pitman said its likely services for children in the Pakenham area would be support for children struggling at school, help for families at risk of breakdown, recreation and respite for disabled children and foster care homes for children unable to continue living with their natural parents.
“The funds raised by JG King Homes will enable us to establish the necessary teams to provide these services,” Mr Pitman said.
This is not the first time a home has been built and sold for charity in Pakenham.
In January, local builder George Single assembled a team of contractors to construct the “House of Hope”, a four-bedroom home in Henty Park, which sold at auction for $270,000.
The community-based bid captured many hearts and raised about $200,000 to help the Tsunami Appeal in South East Asia.