Families and members of the community will be among those who benefit from an upgrade to the Temora Community Centre thanks to $100,000 through the NSW Government’s Round Five of the Stronger Country Communities Fund.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke was delighted to share the news with the Staff, Management Committee and volunteers of the centre this week.
“The work which the team at Temora Community Centre provides to the community is invaluable, they provide ‘hands-on support’ in a warm, welcoming and friendly environment,” Ms Cooke said.
“Thank you for the support provided by the 10 volunteers, as we all know our centres cannot operate without our amazing volunteers.”
“With the installation of access ramps and an automatic front door means access to the centre for people with disabilities or parents with prams will be that much easier.
“It is important that we work to create supportive and inclusive facilities that are physically accessible and welcoming to everyone and this project will see the centre improved so it can continue to serve locals well into the future.”
Temora Community Centre Manager Debra Patterson said they are thrilled with this funding as now they can provide an accessible entrance to the centre rather than the much less equitable rear of building access currently available.
“We are excited to be able to improve the entrance so all members of the community can enter the Centre safely, with ease and dignity,” Ms Patterson said.
The Centre has been supporting the Temora LGA since 1982, with services including a Community Hub, Child Youth and Family Support, Centrelink Agent and a range of visiting services that provide support in areas mental health, financial counselling, supported playgroup, parenting skills program, Tax Help to name a few.
Temora Community Centre employs four part-time staff, Manager/Support worker, Family Support Worker, Bookkeeper and Centrelink Agent they are also supported by 10 volunteers and a volunteer Management Committee. The volunteers provide an invaluable service by being the welcoming face at reception, preparing Plates of Plenty meal and food relief program and the background tasks of cleaning and maintenance.
Community Centres are valuable not only to residents of the local area but provide an important conduit to the community for services. Connected communities are more resilient communities. Having a more welcoming, accessible and inclusive place for people to gather and connect will foster greater social cohesion and support the community.
Since 2017, the Stronger Country Communities Fund has invested over $5.2 million for 32 projects across Temora Shire as part of the NSW Government’s $3.3 billion Regional Growth Fund.
For more information, please visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/regional-nsw/programs-and-grants/regional-growth-fund/stronger-country-communities-fund
