Red Cross office relocating

THE Red Cross regional office in Lismore is being relocated, raising concerns about the future of the Keen Street tea rooms.

Beverley Smith, of North Codrington, has been a loyal customer of the Red Cross Tea Rooms in Lismore for over 30 years and is concerned for its future with the decision to relocate the Lismore regional office to Kempsey. . Picture: Jacklyn Wagner

THE Red Cross regional office in Lismore is being relocated, raising concerns about the future of the Keen Street tea rooms.

As part of Red Cross’s new direction for providing services, the regional office, currently based in Keen Street, will be rented out and the administration moved to Kempsey at the end of this month.

The Red Cross has been in Lismore for more than 90 years, providing emergency services, Telecross, the Community Home Visiting Scheme, and other community programs, as well as running the Red Cross Tea Rooms, which will stay open for the immediate future.

Beverly Smith has been going to the tea rooms for the past 30 years and is shocked at the thought of having to go anywhere else.

“I’m not one to go to restaurants,” the North Codrington resident said.

“I have even bought my grandkids here. It is a place for families, the elderly and even young teens to come in for lunch or a cuppa.

“It’s a happy place and it is one way of supporting the Red Cross.”

Despite the relocation, Red Cross NSW executive director Lewis Kaplan said the presence of Red Cross across the region would not change.

“We will work with the ladies in the tea room to either keep them in the current location, or relocate them to a more appropriate location outside of the flood zone,” he said.

“We will find alternative accommodation for our other services, but they will not be based in a publicly-accessible office.

“There will still be the same training programs and services offered in the area, so there will be no negative impact on training programs.

“The training rooms at the Lismore office will be rented out and the training programs offered at different locations in the region, depending on program requirements.”

Mr Kaplan said this would allow for greater flexibility and would improve the quality of services.

Anyone enquiring about services can call 1300 367 428.

Originally published as Red Cross office relocating