The Churchill Neighbourhood Centre has always strived to meet the needs of the ever changing Churchill community.
We began life in May 1981 as the Churchill Neighbourhood Learning Group, a Women’s Interest Group using rooms in cooperating Churches. By June the following year the Housing Commission granted this group the use of a house in Amaroo Drive at a rent of $10 a week. Staffed initially by volunteers, successful grant applications in March 1984 saw the first paid (part time) coordinators appointed. October 1985 brought with it another move into a ‘purpose built’ house at 42 Churinga Drive.
During the following eight years more programs were introduced, the participant numbers increased and the house continued to grow.
1993 brought further changes – we became the Churchill Neighbourhood Centre and moved yet again, this time to the Leisure Centre. Initially we shared the premises with Skillshare but after they left the centre we finally had rooms to call home.
Our final move came in July 2009 when, to make way for the new Gippsland Education Precinct we relocated to the Churchill and District Intergenerational Hub in Phillip Parade.
What a journey!
Along the way the Centre has evolved from the image of a Neighbourhood House being just a place for women to sit and chat over a cuppa ( but we still do that!!! ), to providing classes that develop skills, offer personal development and education, as well as recreation and leisure activities for a wide range of participants.. Our move to the Hub has also allowed for the creation of a Community Workshop incorporating a Men’s Shed Program.
The most important ingredient in the history of the Centre are/is the people. It’s the generosity of spirit that keeps organizations such as ours thriving
We’re not mentioning any names here, as everyone who has been associated with the Centre since its inception has played an important role in its success and we’d hate to accidentally leave anybody out. The Committee is run by volunteers, our Coordinators have given of their time unstintingly, and our tutors are to be congratulated for creating such a supportive environment in which to learn. And it’s our participants who come to the Centre and attend our classes who are our true ambassadors.
2016 will be our 35th birthday!
