After nearly three months, the Kelso Community Hub has reopened to the public in its entirety, with COVID-safe procedures in place to ensure staff and visitors can operate securely.
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The Bonnor Street facility opened its doors on Tuesday with the appropriate recommendations in place for social distancing, building occupancy limits [in accordance with the four-square-metre rule] and personal hygiene.
Councillor Graeme Hanger said the reopening of the hub will see a key 'home away from home' return to the Kelso community.
"It's a wonderful facility sporting vital health and recreation services for Kelso youth and their families," Cr Hanger said.
"The facility has been well preserved during the lockdown, and Bathurst Regional Council strongly encourages the Kelso community to continue using it."
The hub facilitates a wide variety of free programs, including a weekly playgroup, health clinics, Women's Group and youth programs, such as a regular breakfast program for Kelso-based school students and their families, which is set to resume at the start of term three.
We've found over the years that students in some parts of Kelso with a less than stellar home situation have embraced this facility for much needed respite.
- Councillor Graeme Hanger
Cr Hanger, who is also a former teacher at Denison College Kelso High Campus, said the facility is a fantastic resource to provide a space of solace for local students.
"We've found over the years that students in some parts of Kelso with a less than stellar home situation have embraced this facility for much needed respite," he said.
"The community workers here do a tremendous job to support disadvantaged children and ensure they maintain a positive wellbeing."
A $214,000 upgrade to the facility was opened in October last year, which included an expansion of existing office space, a new multi purpose room with a projector and smart board and a kitchen refurbishment.
Services coordinator James Woolmington said he's excited to see the facility gradually return to full capacity.
"The children love the playground, and it has been well utilised throughout the COVID period," Mr Woolmington said.
"Now that we've reopened, we're hoping to see our full roster of services return as soon as possible."
While most services were put on hold during the lockdown, the facility's child and family health clinic and sexual health clinic remained open for residents.
"We were operating each week throughout the COVID period, but it'll be exciting when we get the playgroup back up," Bathurst Health Service social worker Leah Boetoes said.
"The shutdown has been hard on families, so it's nice to see some normalcy resume."
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Sam Bolt
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
