By Eleanor Wilson
Nestled in Oakgrove Drive, Narre Warren, Oakgrove Community Centre has welcomed a range of families for more than two decades.
The not-for-profit organisation is set to celebrate its 25th anniversary early next month, reflecting on the strong support network it has built for the Narre Warren community.
David Haynes has been president of the centre committee since February 2013.
He said the centre has changed drastically since then, thanks to the growth of the suburb and a rise in culturally diverse communities, particular Afghan populations.
“We’ve moved with the community, that has been our major role and that has been a significant achievement for the centre to do that,” he said.
Mr Haynes said the centre has seen 32 per cent growth in its programs since 2010.
“That’s due to Mary and the staff. They’ve taken the centre along this new route, where we now have playgroups for non-English speaking children which allow the parents to mix together. We teach them English and get children ready to go to school.”
One of the key services the centre provides is pre-kinder and playgroup sessions, which have also seen demand shoot up over the years.
Centre manager Mary Amalraj said she hopes the centre can continue to provide for culturally diverse communities in the future.
“The future is definitely engaging with and connecting more communities, especially new arrivals,” she said.
“We envisage expanding our existing playgroups to more diverse and unique ones organised around particular needs or common interests such as babies, non-English speaking, special needs, as well as educational programs for women getting them prepared for employment.”
Gina Dickinson, who has just ticked over 17 years as a kindergarten educator at Oakgrove, said the joy she gets from seeing the children learn is what drives her.
“I love my job,” she said.
“It’s the love of the kids and watching them grow, teaching them and seeing them enthusiastic about everything,” she said.
“It’s the kids wanting to come in and at the end of the day hearing them tell their parents what they’ve learned, so you know they have listened and are taking it in.”
The community centre is welcoming the public for a 25th anniversary event on Sunday 4 December between 11am and 2pm, with face painting, arts and crafts, pony rides, a jumping castle, market stalls and food van among the attractions.
