Parra News November 23 2021

LOCAL NEWS
Push for tea room revival
Calls for popular Red Cross tea room to be resurrected at the Phive in 2022
NICOLA BARTON
It was once the oldest standing
arm of the Australian Red
Cross, but the Parramatta
branch has now been homeless
for six years.
For 81 years the Parramatta
branch served the greater
community of Parramatta, 75
years of which the branch’s
principal activity was to provide a
‘haven’ for locals, at its staffed tea
room.
The tea room was once a place
where there was always a hot pot
of tea, sandwiches, friendly faces
and support but it was brought
to an end in 2015 when the then
Parramatta City Council demolished
the old Council chambers
building in which it operated
from.
Since then, President of the
branch, John Glass, fought for the
group to be relocated, yet to this
day remains unsuccessful.
“The tea room was the auspices
of the Australian Red Cross and
was our branch’s primary activity,”
Mr Glass said.
“The tea room commenced in
Macquarie Street in 1940 and in
1956 it moved into the old Council
chambers.
“We had hoped to continue the
branch’s activities in another
suitable location, courtesy of
Parramatta Council in replacement
of the demolished venue,
but much time has been wasted
now.
“At the time it was the oldest
branch in Australia.”
The branch have since occasionally
met at cafes and the
Parramatta RSL Club, however
had to be deemed ‘in recess’ by
the Red Cross due to its issues
securing a location.
Mr Glass is now calling on
the City of Parramatta Council
to reserve a space in the new
chambers, currently under
construction, to see the tea room
resurrected.
The $130 million 5 Parramatta
Square development will be the
City of Parramatta’s new headquarters.
Once completed, it will
house Council’s new chambers as
well as a library, community hall
and spaces.
The building is expected to be
completed by April 2022.
“Council values and supports
the many services provided to the
community by the Red Cross,” a
City of Parramatta spokesperson
said.
“Parramatta Hive (Phive),
the new cultural, civic and
community building located at
5 Parramatta Square, has been
designed to offer many flexible
community spaces that are
accessible for all members of the
public and, as a result, will not be
available for exclusive use by any
one organisation.
“City of Parramatta Council’s 19
community facilities have been,
and will continue to be, available
for use by the Red Cross, along
with other community groups, to
continue their valuable work.”
Parramatta Red Cross Branch President, John Glass.
parra news » Tuesday, November 23, 2021
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