More than $700,000 has been contributed by Mirvac and their trusted supplier partners to deliver the Think Pink Foundation’s new purpose-built Living Centre for people experiencing breast cancer and their families at Mirvac’s Yarra’s Edge on the cusp of Melbourne’s CBD.
Think Pink will move from its current premises on St Kilda Road to the Yarra’s Edge community in late 2019.
Mirvac General Manager of Residential Victoria, Elysa Anderson, said the dedicated wellness facilities across its master-planned community and apartments are designed to support a healthier lifestyle for residents.
“We are honoured to enable the creation of the new Living Centre and ensure the foundation can continue to grow, delivering its unique and important services,” she said.
Mr Anderson said that Think Pink’s clients and volunteers will benefit from access to the lush parkland, and riverside walking trails – not to mention the tranquil waterfront environment with city vistas – to enhance their Living Centre experience and assist with the rehabilitation and recovery.
The new centre has been designed by Mirvac’s inhouse design team Mirvac Design and its construction managed by Mirvac Construction.
Temperzone, Miele, Dulux, Blind Concepts, Harvey Norman Commercial and Godfrey Hirst have contributed to the new Living Centre by donating mechanical ventilation units, kitchen appliances, paint, curtains, household appliances and floor coverings respectively, while Corrs Chambers Westgarth, WSP Australia, Hollerich Town Planning, PLP Building Surveyors & Consultants, Simpson Kotzman and Acoustic Logic have come on board as consultants. A vertical garden in the waiting area upon arrival, will also be delivered by VIRID Vertical Gardens.
“We’ve been very fortunate to have several of our trusted suppliers come on board for such a valuable cause,” Ms Anderson said.
Mirvac Design Senior Associate, Victor Wong, said the versatile new Living Centre will be able to cater to up to 50 clients at one time, with space for a 30-person seminar or a six- to 12-person yoga class.
Mirvac Design assessed how the centre’s current St Kilda Road premises could be improved in the new design from a functionality perspective. The flexible layout is planned to include a function space, hairdressing salon, therapy room, counselling room, break-out kitchen and dining area, private offices for staff and storage space.
The Yarra’s Edge riverside setting will introduce a sense of calm to the centre, which was conducive to the health and wellness mission of Think Pink.
Mr Wong said they wanted to create an inviting space where people can dwell, where it doesn’t feel like a clinic and people don’t feel like they’re going to the doctor.
“Coming from the ground floor of a busy commercial tower on St Kilda Road, the new location at Yarra’s Edge needed to be a sanctuary for members and I think we’ve been able to achieve this with the combination of the interiors and the surrounding green space and river promenade.”
Think Pink breast care nurse, Andrea Cannon, said the Foundation had outgrown its current premises and the volunteers, members and their families were excited to be moving to the new Living Centre at Yarra’s Edge and expanding their services.
“Breast cancer can be a psychologically challenging time for clients, and they need private spaces so it will be great to have areas designated for our different services, as well as private office space.”
Ms Cannon went on to say that the vision behind the Living Centre was to create a non-clinical facility with professional guidance, where “people can participate in a variety of programs that support them as a person, to help them through breast cancer, and enhance the breast cancer experience through the delivery of support and educative programs informed by best-practice”.
“Mirvac’s ongoing support is incredible, and we also wouldn’t exist without our volunteers, who help make the Living Centre a place where breast cancer patients can come, free of charge at any stage of their treatment, to meet with other people who are in the same situation,” she said.
The Living Centre offers a comprehensive education program on topics such as food, fitness and finance once a quarter, inviting professionals such as qualified oncology dieticians, exercise physiologists and a financial advisor.
Other popular services include a free wig service for patients experiencing hair loss, yoga classes, meditation, art therapy, writing workshops, weekly walking groups, massage therapy and individual counselling sessions.
Ms Cannon said the new centre will provide clients with more access to outdoor activities, including a weekly walking group along the Yarra River, and will enable them to host more events for families and partners at Wharf Landing Park on the new Living Centre’s doorstep.
“Think Pink’s mission is to help our clients return to some level of normality both during and after treatment. We address the very real needs and struggles of those affected by a breast cancer diagnosis and are currently living through what is probably the most challenging time of their life. The new Living Centre will provide a sanctuary for clients and enable a better journey through breast cancer,” she said.
For more information on the Think Pink Foundation and the Living Centre, please visit: www.thinkpink.org.au