treatment.

It was officially opened by “Ronald” himself and Manilla boy Beau Moore.

Highlighting how badly needed the facility was, Beau has been staying at Tamworth Hospital.

He took off, literally, almost immediately after unwrapping a big ribbon to declare the house opened.

The opening’s emcee Kevin Anderson said an air ambulance was waiting at Tamworth Regional Airport which would transport Beau and his family to Sydney for

treatment.

Ronald McDonald House Charities chief executive officer Malcolm Coutts said it was unusual for a city the size of Tamworth to have a house.

“Most of the others are 50 or 60 rooms and families stay there for up to two years,” he said.

It was unlikely that the Tamworth house would be similarly used. It would be more likely to host families on short-term stays.

“I’ll be watching with interest,” Mr Coutts said.

Tamworth’s house – with four overnight rooms that can sleep a small family, volunteer room and day room – was about the same size as Wagga Wagga’s facility.

Organising work on the house began in earnest less than a year ago.

The committee was formed last September, and Ronald McDonald Charities pledged their support in December.

The house was largely built in a three-day construction blitz in

mid-May.