By Cameron Weston
CHRISTMAS came early for several neighbourhood houses in Hobsons Bay last week with an announcement that extra funding will soon be heading their way.
The funding is part of a State Government program to improve neighbourhood houses in needy areas across Victoria.
Outlets Co-Op in Newport received $50,000, the Laverton Community Centre received $25,000 and the Williamstown Community and Education Centre received $18,500.
Outlets CEO Therese McKenney-Campbell said the funding would mean the realisation of a “nine-year dream” for the centre, and would be used to extend the building.
Lack of space was restricting what the centre could offer, and children’s activities sometimes conflicted with adult courses, the main focus of the centre.
The local community will also be involved in the refurbishment, with locals invited to leave their mark on the new building.
“We’re trying to get mosaic teams and the local artists we have here, people from the community who use the house, to come up with an artistic design”, Ms McKenney-Campbell said.
A covered billboard will also be erected, where people can get information about what is going on in the area.
Ms McKenney Campbell said the Outlets redevelopment would happen in stages, and Newport Hall and Newport Baptist Church would be used to host some adult classes in the meantime.
Lynne Hewet from Williamstown Community and Education Centre said the grant funding would enable staff to buy a bank of computers to be based at Spotswood house.
Ms Hewet said the portable computers would also be used for classes at Walker Close Community Centre, Altona Library and the Migrant Resource Centre in Altona.
“Any classes that are away from our main centre can have access to computers now,” she said, “We have been very fortunate and we are very pleased.”
Laverton Community Centre manager Michael Pernar said the funding would make a real difference to what the centre could offer the community.
“It’s helping us, as a registered training organisation, to deliver courses and the training that is needed for people in Laverton.”
“We’ll also be offering an access point for computers and the internet. By providing these computers we’re hoping we’ll be able to help people look for work.”
Mr Pernar said the funding would allow the community centre to remain an important part of the Laverton renewal project.
“This funding is really linking in with the ‘big picture’ things that are planned for Laverton over the next few years,” he said.
