By Ethan Benedicto
Tucked in the lush crevices of Bemersyde Drive, Brentwood Park Neighbourhood House and Community Centre is a place many locals indulge in, from their childcare to the open spaces for functions.
The community centre, which was a successful applicant for the 2023/24 Growing Suburbs Fund grant, will see upgrades to the building’s facilities such as its kitchenettes, multi-purpose community rooms and more.
The centre’s manager, Jo Davey, said that support such as the one gained from the Fund is integral to the operation of the centre, as well as its and the staff’s capabilities to cater to the local community.
Davey said that for their community, “it’s really important”.
“We have so many different faith groups and multicultural groups that come and use this space, and being able to lift it to a more usable level for them is just going to make a world of difference.
“It’s going to improve their programs, as well as the programs that we provide for the community.”
South-Eastern Metropolitan MP, Michael Galea, visited the centre on Friday 21 September, seeing firsthand the intended upgrading process and what’s in store for the staff and visitors.
“We have such a growing population here, especially in Berwick and Casey more broadly, [so] it’s really important that we have all the big projects that we often talk about – the schools, the roads, but just as important is building those communities.
“These projects such as Brentwood Park really mean that we can ensure that as Berwick grows, we have amazing centres that are run by amazing people and are fully supported.
“We already see so many groups using this centre, and these improvements through the Fund will make such a big difference to supporting them, and future users as well,” Galea said.
One of the upgrades includes double spring flooring for the centre’s halls, with Davey commenting on the frequency of groups renting them out for dancing and larger-scale activities.
The centre, which houses two kitchenettes will also see them upgraded, with the smaller one, tucked into a little nook in the hall, to be extended and widened, adding more room and space for related activities.
Staff will also be receiving a space upgrade, with the current lack of a meeting room soon to be addressed with an extension in the works for their space.
Davey took Galea on a short yet detailed centre tour, outlining the current facilities such as the 0-4-year-old playgroup, with Davey adding that “it’s really good to see who we’re dealing with in government”.
“We’ve had our meetings with the City of Casey, but we know the money comes from higher up, so being able to put a face to the name and know who has been helping to push this funding for us, it makes use feel seen and valued for all the work we do,” she said.
To Galea, being able to come down and see for himself the centre and its operations was “exciting”, especially when it came to the “impact that the funding will make and see the groups out here today and how they’ll benefit from what this funding will deliver.”
“It’s one thing to be dealing with reports and spreadsheets, but to be out here on the ground seeing the impact it’ll make is really exciting and I’m very much looking forward to hopefully coming back to see once it’s underway, and when it’s done.”
