It was a double celebration at The Neighbourhood Centre yesterday when the staff celebrated not only Neighbourhood Centre Week but also the centre’s 40th year in Bathurst.
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The Neighbourhood Centre manager Jean Fell said the centre decided to celebrate both significant milestones.
“We thought we would put the two together,” she said during a morning tea held to honour the two occasions yesterday.
Among those attending the event were the current management team as well as former managers, including Pat Cutts.
Ms Fell said The Neighbourhood Centre was a first port of call for members of the community looking to find out about services or needing information.
“They come to us wanting a service or asking us to point them in the right direction for a particular group,” she said.
“We basically help people help themselves.
“We provide the information to help people build their skills, whether it’s a teenager learning to drive or someone looking to attend our free legal clinic.”
Ms Fell said nearly 100 groups use The Neighbourhood Centre as a meeting room.
“In the 40 years since we were established the centre has come a long way,” Ms Fell said.
“Forty years ago a group of volunteers lobbied council for some space and they originally operated out of the women’s restrooms in Howick Street.
“Twelve months on from that the group got a state government grant which enabled them to employ a part-time co-ordinator.
“The service has moved many times over the years as it continued to grow, and now we are funded by seven different funding bodies.”
To mark the service’s 40th year and Neighbourhood Centre Week, everyone enjoyed a morning tea and cake cutting ceremony, before taking the opportunity to wander around The Neighbourhood Centre and learn about the many services available through the service.
