What we do
Trentham Neighbourhood Centre is a not-for-profit incorporated association managed by an elected committee of management drawn from the local community and run by volunteers, a paid coordinator and an administrator. The centre is associated with the Association of Neighbourhood Houses and Learning Centres (ANHLC). The centre receives support from The Victorian Government's Department of Planning and Community Development Neighbourhood House Coordination Program.
We aim to provide support for the cultural, social, educational, economic and recreational needs of the people in the district. We try to organise a range of activities to suit all parts of this community: young and old, men and women. We encourage and support people to organise activities for themselves.
Our History
Trentham Neighbourhood Centre began in 1991 as a group of parents who organised activities for themselves and the town one day per week in the local Mechanics Institute. In 1992 this group leased the local Scout Hall as it provided a "cosier" venue.
The centre grew in its new venue. It provided children's activities, gardening sessions, talks and demonstrations on general topics, crafts activities, computer classes, writing classes, exercise activities and a community meeting place which other groups could use. The facility was used by Trentham Residents and Traders Association, Trentham Neighbourhood Watch, Tai Chi, Aboriginal Reconciliation Group, Purple Sage Project, Brownies, Book Club, and more.
In 1998 the Scout movement decided to sell the hall. After a series of public meeting it was decided to form a committee and buy the hall. The Trentham Community Group was formed and bought the hall for $50,000. It took the Trentham Community Group nearly 10 years of fund raising and a generous donation from Hepburn Shire Council to pay for the building.
Trentham Neighbourhood Centre continued to provide a wide range of courses and activities for the people of Trentham and district but was always restricted by lack of space at the old Scout Hall. After 6 years of fund raising and generous donations from The Australian Government, The Victorian Government, Hepburn Shire Council, Spud Fest, Trentham Lion's Club and many individual donations the centre is being renovated and expanded. The new centre will retain the cosiness of the original scout hall but will have an office, indoor toilets, a computer classroom, a meeting room, public internet access and an informal community space. The new centre should be open around July 2010.
Our Committee
The centre's committee is elected each year at our AGM. The committee are responsible for the strategic direction of the centre. The current committee is:-
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Helen Frost, Chair
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Brian Dunn, Vice-Chair
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Vicky Adamson, Treasurer
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Sandy Cummins, Secretary
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Roy Capener, Past-Chair
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Simon Evans
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Lee-Anne Tisdale
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Xanny Jacka
