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Community Centre Opening | |
NEWS ARCHIVE |
29th July 2003 | |
 L to R: Hon Steve Bracks MP Premier of Victoria, Mr Robert Paroissien (Chair Uniting Care Outer East Region Board). |
 L to R: Ms Kirsty Marshall (World Aerial Skiing Champion) and Hon Steve Bracks MP Premier of Victoria. |
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 A plaque to commemorate the opening of the Community Centre. |
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The Strathdon Community Centre was opened by the Hon Steve Bracks MP Premier of Victoria. Mr Bracks said the Community Centre was based on a unique model that focused on bringing together the wider community and the senior citizens in the region. The Community Centre includes a hall, chapel, library, art and crafts room and kiosk. It is part of the completed Stage 2 Redevelopment at Strathdon, with Stage 3 due for completion in September 2003. “Maintaining contact with the community is important for the social, emotional and physical well-being of the elderly in residential care,” Mr Bracks said. “The centre provides an opportunity for members of the local community, regardless of where they live, to be part of a stimulating and caring neighbourhood extended family.” Mr Bracks said the Government had provided a $500,000 grant toward the development of the multi-purpose community centre in Forest Hill. “Government funding for the centre has been drawn from the Community Support Fund, which returns gambling revenue to new projects in partnership with the community.” The following organisations were unified with a vision of a future community need. The Community Centre combined with the Community Partnership Initiative received significant financial contributions from The John T. Reid Charitable Trust, The Grosvenor Settlement, The Matheson Family, The Baker Foundation, The Sidney Myer Fund, the Ian Potter Foundation, St Andrew’s Foundation and The William Buckland Foundation. The Community Centre is accommodating new initiatives, including the Forest Hill University of the Third Age, whose program offers activities in the local community, such as Opera Appreciation, Geneology, Indonesian and Tai-Chi. “Strathdon residents, school children, youth groups and other community groups have the opportunity to become involved in these initiatives,” Mr Bracks said. “The centre provides the whole community with an opportunity to learn new skills as well as encouraging closer interaction between the elderly, children and families.” Mr Bracks acknowledged the efforts of the Community Partnership Steering Committee and the program providers, which included the U3A, Life Activities Club Whitehorse Inc, Forest Hill Probus, Deakin University and St Timothy’s Parish. “The Strathdon Community Centre is a true community building effort that wouldn’t have been possible without partnerships between governments, community groups and the private sector,” Mr Bracks said. “The Government is committed to listening to communities to ensure that local services are responsive to their needs, and the Strathdon Community Centre is a great record of that achievement.” |
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