One Wonderful Year for Willagee Community Centre

To mark the occasion, users of the centre and residents are invited to drop by next week (Tuesday, 29 January to Friday, 1 February) to enjoy some birthday cake with centre staff. On the Tuesday, the centre is also putting on an Aboriginal Family Fun Day, featuring farm animals, face painting, food and other fun activities and entertainment for the community to enjoy.

Mayor Russell Aubrey said the City of Melville regained management of the centre from private operators on 27 January 2007. “We believed we could better serve our residents by managing the centre ourselves and integrating it with other Council services,” he said. “It has allowed us to work more directly with local residents close to where they live and be more responsive to their ideas and concerns.”

Community Development Co-ordinator Lesley Gilroy said the look and feel of the centre had improved over the past year. “The improvements have included completion of landscaping and external painting of the building, installation of new carpet and equipment using a Lotterywest grant and refurbishing of the toilets,” she said. “We have expanded our range of activities, including seniors’ concerts, after-school activities, a community photo exhibition, community physiotherapy as well as new range of computer courses.”

Ms Gilroy said 2008 would also be a big year. “We are about to launch a new look newsletter outlining all the new great things happening at the centre in 2008 and welcome the community to come talk to our friendly staff who strive to develop close links to community organisations and residents,” she said.

The centre also offers playgroups, financial counselling, a weight-loss program, badminton, Irish dancing, calisthenics, an art group and yoga. It hosts Willagee Alive meetings, fortnightly health and wellbeing talks and is home to a gardening group.

Centre user Bill Sweeney, who lives at Weeronga Retirement Village, said there had been a big difference in the look and feel of the centre since the City of Melville had taken over. “I take part in Willagee Alive, the gardening club and computer courses and have been impressed by the changes, including the new reception lounge, new carpet and upgraded toilets,” he said. “I could now come to the centre every day as there is so much to do.”

Willagee Community Centre is in Winnacott Street next to Willagee Library. For more information, contact the centre on 9364 0848.