Rotary Club of Attadale president John Sharp in front of the Beeliar home that will be sold for charity.
Camera IconRotary Club of Attadale president John Sharp in front of the Beeliar home that will be sold for charity. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Rotary Club of Attadale close to completing home, with proceeds to local charities and an Ethiopian school

Headshot of Josh Zimmerman
Josh ZimmermanMelville Gazette

THE Rotary Club of Attadale is close to completing a Beeliar home it plans to sell, with all proceeds benefiting local charities and an Ethiopian school for disadvantaged children.

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home with study and theatre room is the brainchild of Rotary member and property developer Kerry Parsons, who was motivated to take action after visiting the School of St Yared near Addis Ababa with his wife Abby.

Rotary Club of Attadale president John Sharp said the Parsons made the trip after hearing from the school’s founder Yared Wolde in late 2015.

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“Yared gave a very moving speech and then without saying anything to anybody, Kerry and his wife flew over to have a look,” Mr Sharp said.

“He came back inspired, saying he wanted to build a house and sell it and Rotary was more than happy to get behind the project.”

After identifying a developer willing to provide the land at a discounted rate and with a deferred settlement date, the club began construction last year.

Mr Sharp said Mr Parsons and other Rotary members had leveraged their connections in the building industry to secure materials and services at a discounted rate.

“There have been a few delays; when you get things donated and services at reduced price, you tend to be closer to the back of the queue – but we’re now almost at lock-up stage.

“I’d estimate the house will be ready to sell at some point in late March or early April, because the fit-out will take some time.”

Mr Sharp said the club planned to use about $40,000 from the sale of the house to apply for a Rotary International Global Grant, which would turn that money into closer to $120,000, to be put towards the refurbishment of a dormitory at the School of St Yared.

The club plans to use an additional $30,000 to apply for a second Global Grant in 2018, tripling that amount to construct new classrooms.

The remaining proceeds from the sale of the house will be used to support local charities.