Joan Grieg is passionate about the Braybrook Maidstone Neighbourhood House. 69496 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By Kara Irving
JOAN Grieg holds a special place in her heart for the Braybrook Maidstone Neighbourhood House.
Spending just over 100 hours at the community house per month, the passionate chairwoman is hoping the house will still operate when State Government funding ceases in 2012.
Recently the neighbourhood house lodged an application with the government for additional funding, requesting to be paid up to 38 hours per week – but the application was rejected based on the neighborhood house’s constitution.
“We’ve consulted with a lawyer in recent months and we’re looking at lodging another application soon,” Ms Grieg said.
Unlike others, the neighbourhood house is only funded for a minimum of 10 hours per week. If funding isn’t increased, volunteers such as Ms Grieg will have to spend less time at the facility.
“I’d been a carer to my mum for 12 years and when my mum passed away in 2007, I started volunteering at the house,” Ms Grieg said.
“Since then the people at the house have become my second family.”
Co-coordinator Vivienne Conn said that if they didn’t receive additional funding they’d have to shorten their opening hours, which will impact on the number of people visiting the house.
“There are people out there who don’t have access to certain facilities at their homes that they can use at the house,” Ms Cox said.
Currently the centre accommodates math’s tutoring for school students, a free legal service and financial counseling, a mothers’ group, community lunches, knitting and jewellery making, a family day care playgroup and an Elders Somali Women’s social group.
“If we don’t receive additional funding, we’ll continue to serve the needs of the community … we’ll keep that promise to them,” Joan said.
