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Churchill And District Community Hub Officially OpenedThe Churchill and District Community Hub was officially opened today by the State Minister for Community Development Peter Batchelor, the Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Maxine Morand, and Latrobe City mayor Cr Lisa Price By Latrobe City Council - 5th May 2009 - Back to News The Churchill and District Community Hub provides a single point of access to a number of services such as maternal and child health centre, council service centre, library, Churchill Preschool, Pooh Corner Child Care Centre, Churchill Neighbourhood Centre and other facilities for the community including a parenting room, community kitchen and meeting rooms for the town and district’s residents.
While officially opened today, numerous services have been operating from the Hub since early February.
Latrobe City mayor, Cr Lisa Price, said the Hub represents the best aspects of the Churchill and District community – energy, self-reliance, creativity, cooperation, partnership, support and opportunity.
"From the beginning it has been council’s intention that the Churchill Hub be a quality and innovative building for the community. Our desire was to provide a flexible multi-purpose venue designed to encourage partnerships between local organisations and build connections in the community – both social and physical. It also incorporates a wide range of energy and water efficient design features to ensure it has a minimal environmental impact and reduced running costs.
"The Hub is literally at the centre of east/west and north/south connections in the Churchill community and so to it is our hope that this building will become the activity centre of this vibrant community.
"Already the Hub is fulfilling its ideals, drawing people together of all ages and backgrounds, providing social, educational and recreational opportunities to those in Churchill and its surrounding districts," Cr Price said.
Cr Price said the Churchill and District Community Hub project had been over five years in the making.
"It all started with a proposal to develop a new venue for the Churchill Neighbourhood Centre and grew to meet the aspirations and hopes of the community
"Today, the Churchill and District Community Hub is a striking symbol of what can be achieved through the establishment of a shared vision, and the energy that can be harnessed through respect, cooperation and collaborative partnerships.
"The Hub is a testament to the resolve, determination and drive to succeed, generated by all involved. And that energy is what we celebrate here today, as we sit within the physical manifestation of a community dream," Cr Price added.
The Churchill and District Community Hub is a $4.75 million project; with Latrobe City Council contributing $1.96 million; the Victorian Government’s Department of Planning and Community Development $1.05 million, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development $500,000, and the Department of Human Services $310,000; the Australian Government $800,000; and Monash University $135,000.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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