From the Centre

Hi everyone

It’s a great time for us to thank the bodies that fund us. People often ask where our money to fund such great programs comes from – about 33% is from grants. So let us take the time to thank the State Government for a quarterly grant to help us carry out community development, thank you to the Adult Community Further Education who help to subsidise education for those who have achieved only up to level 10 or form 4 and thank you to the City of Greater Geelong who provide a grant to help us deliver specific parts of programs.

Thank you to Department of Education and Early Childhood Development who give us a small grant to help us provide Occasional Care at a reasonable rate and they also help people have subsidized Occasional Care if they are attending an Adult Community Further Education subsidized class, lastly Department of Education and Workplace Relations who subsidize Vacation Care and allow us to keep fees reasonable.

The other two thirds of our funds come from fees we charge for services, classes, advertising in the Messenger, Occasional Care and Vacation Care fees, money our groups pay to help us keep the doors open and fees from photocopying and hall hire.

Thank you to everyone who helps us continue to grow and support a wider range of services each year. Last year our turn over was $385,000 this is a 100% increase in the last 6 years. The SpringDale artists recently held a very successful art show. In our preparations for the event, I learnt that approximately 60 have to come to an art show for a painting to be sold and if 10% of displayed works sell, then it is a successful show. Our Art show sold approximately 50% of works displayed. Well done everyone for all your efforts and congratulations for all your success. Another Art show has been scheduled for the last weekend in November. This time it will showcase the works of Wayne Elliott, a strong supporter of SpringDale Neighbourhood Centre. Wayne’s businesses have always been advertised on the front of the Messenger since it commenced almost 20 years ago. Wayne has led a number of SpringDale groups including being the President of the Drysdale Clifton Springs Community Association, when it was auspiced by SpringDale.

I would like to thank Pierce and a new volunteer Grace who have put hundreds of hours into improving our website and Liam Way who has recently created a DVD about SpringDale. I love all the things that all our people achieve every week.

Anne Brackley
on behalf of the SpringDale Team

Dear Friends

I would love to say thank you to the City of Greater Geelong and especially our Councillors Rod Macdonald and John Doull, who gave SpringDale a small grant to help fund two recent activities – the Grant Writing workshops and SpringDale’s 21st birthday. Thank you to Marita Thurman for organizing the 21st Birthday Party, Marita invested many hours into this event and coordinated many of our current volunteers to help. Thank you to everyone who helped, including our kitchen groups that made slices and those who helped celebrate.

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Dear Friends

Our new event sign is doing its job – daily we have many people coming into SpringDale because of the information on the sign. The sign was funded by a grant from the Bellarine Peninsula Community Bank (ie Bendigo Bank Drysdale) and we thank them for supporting this venture. Our new door is working well giving us greater options for use of that room.

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Dear Friends

It’s hard to know what to highlight this month as so many things have happened. You might have noticed our new door at the west end of the building. This door will allow for better egress during the day and allow this room to be accessed in the evening by groups for meetings or trainings without affecting other users of the building.

An event sign has been installed near High Street. This sign will allow us to promote events, classes, groups, facilities, meetings and even good messages. Read more >>

Dear Friends

Have you noticed the exciting changes that continue to happen to the SpringDale Messenger each issue. Lyn Ingles from blue pencil publishing has been working with us now for more than three years. We have gone from a newsletter that always had a lemon coloured cover, through different hues until we have an almost completely coloured magazine Read more >>

Dear Friends
I look forward to sharing words with you each month. I try to think of something to say that each and every person who reads this may draw ideas, information or inspiration. At the moment I’m enjoying a few days away from work. I love taking the time to look around me and think. Read more >>

Dear Friends
A couple of months ago I wrote of gentleness and many people seemed to appreciate that sentiment. I also value positive thought and energy. I love to have positive, happy people around me. So many positive people help at SpringDale or visit every day. Read more >>