As Oakgrove Community Centre celebrates its 25th anniversary, Star News Group flipped through the archives to find an article from 5 July 2007 which detailed the centre’s expansion launch. We have republished the story here to mark the important milestone for the not-for-profit.
The extended Oakgrove Community Centre was opened to the public recently following construction to improve the facility for several Casey community groups.
City of Casey mayor Colin Butler officiated at the opening and acknowledged the work of council and community centre staff, the committee of management and other volunteers in seeing the extensions become reality.
“Community centres are places where many of the diverse needs of the community can be met, and council’s objective is to ensure that residents have access to a suitable environment in which to participate in activities,” Cr Butler said.
“Centres like this offer a much-needed community base for a range of activities and learning opportunities, including Scouts and strength training for 50s and over.”
Extension works to the facility included a new multipurpose room addition to an existing room, which about doubled its size, as well as additional storage space.
Unveiled at the extension opening was a stunning three-panel Joy of Life quilt, which will hang in the centre’s multipurpose room.
Recognising the changes in Narre Warren over time, the quilt includes a panel depicting life prior to European settlement with an Aboriginal community and native flora and fauna.
The second panel depicts the introduction of European involvement with farming and cheese making, and the third panel depicts Narre Warren nowadays with homes, playgrounds and families.
Talented community volunteers donated hundreds of hours of their time and skills to produce this original creation for the Oakgrove Community Centre and Narre Warren community.
Those involved in the project included Margaret Hudswell, Jeanette Hume, Wendy Poyzer, Dorothy McCarthy, Dawn Trowell, Marcia Ritter, Kathy Reiter and Riffat Siddiqui.
