Thursday, 5 March 2020

Portarlington Neighbourhood House

Ms NEVILLE (Bellarine—Minister for Water, Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (09:42): Last Friday I had the pleasure of joining president Marg Jucker in cutting the cake to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Portarlington Neighbourhood House. The event was marked also with the official opening of their new home at Parks Hall, which we renovated and updated about a decade ago as well.

We had local community members there, having lunch, dancing—great music; I may have done a little dance myself to celebrate. It really is a fantastic neighbourhood house and has become a really important part of the community life in Portarlington. And it is an organisation that I have been proud to work very closely with from before it started. We provided funding to the community for the community building initiative. Out of that they identified two key priorities: the establishment of the neighbourhood house and the establishment of a ferry—and both of those we have been able to deliver.

At the time I was quoted in the local Port Report. I was there with Lorraine Stokes and I said it was going to make a real difference to the lives of local people. Lorraine and I looked a little bit younger then, but that message still stands today. The house is now offering courses and classes. It has 660 members—it originally had 40 members. What a great achievement over 10 years. I really want to acknowledge Sue Wilson, who did a massive amount of work; Lyn Harriot; Jenny Macaulay; Lorraine Stokes; and Julie Hyslop, the first coordinator, who did an extraordinary job over those 10 years.

The new coordinator, Kerry Wise, we welcome on board. And we say happy birthday, Portarlington Neighbourhood House.