Fears Lady Lawley Cottage could be sold

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Former Lady Lawley Cottage staff are demanding the Red Cross ensure the building is used for another disability service or invest any proceeds of its sale into the care of children. The historic cottage came under Red Cross control to help WA children after World War II and former staff members Kalieha Ryan and Lorraine Hayes, who started a petition objecting to the facility’s closure, contend it was gifted to the organisation to provide for the care of children in WA. They are worried the plum Gibney Street site could soon be sold.

Ms Ryan said, the Red Cross had a moral obligation to either retain it for the care of children with disabilities, or ensure any money from a sale be returned to the State for those services. We want it to be a gift, because we say the cottage was gifted to the Red Cross.

More than 2200 people signed the petition, which was submitted to Cottesloe Council’s last meeting. Town of Cottesloe chief executive Matthew Scott said while the council had “very limited” powers over the respite care facility, it would advocate on behalf of the petitioners to the Red Cross and the State. The charity had planned to shut the facility by 2023 but accelerated the move to December, blaming the effects of COVID-19 and a declining client base.

A spokeswoman said, with a team of over 80 staff, it was evident that our services were not financially viable when block funding ceased and transitioned to a fully NDIS approach.