Cann River Community Centre (CRCC) is enjoying upgraded facilities thanks to the Victorian Government’s Regional Development Victoria and the East Gippsland Shire Council’s Drought Relief Community Facilities / Infrastructure Grants Program.

The community centre provides a range of services and hosts a variety of independent and auspiced community groups in its facilities with services including an outreach library collection, IT facilities (public computers, printing, scanning, laminating, internet and wifi), FoodBank, visitor information services, a Centrelink agency, and op shop and craft shop.

Groups that meet regularly include a playgroup, kids’ sewing class, local history group, women’s group, youth group, art class and community lunch. Occasional users include school holiday activities, a hairdresser, meetings of groups including the local fire preparedness group, Landcare and the RSL, and consultations, meetings or trainings hosted by external groups including local and state government and non-government bodies.

The community centre provides services or activities to an average of 150 local people each week, in a district with a population of around 350.

The old chairs in the multipurpose meeting/dining room, which were more than 20 years old, were damaged. Now all of the groups that utilise the room will benefit from 10 new chairs.

The addition of a new freestanding oven has improved food preparation facilities, benefiting a range of groups including the community lunch, the youth group, and the playgroup, as well as any other group that wishes to cater for meetings.

It is hoped that the installation of security cameras will reduce ongoing maintenance costs caused by vandalism and petty thievery, allowing more of the community’s money to be spent on community programming.

“We are very grateful for the upgraded facilities,” CRCC coordinator, Susie Bady, said.

“We feel they are a worthy use of drought relief funds as the facilities are used by such a broad range of community groups. The social inclusion and cohesion enjoyed by the community members who utilise our centre builds resilience across our community, reinforcing formal and informal social networks, encouraging pro-social behaviours, and supporting isolated or disadvantaged residents to engage with their neighbours.

“All of these outcomes contribute to improving our capacity to weather social, economic, and environmental events, including bushfire, drought, and flood.”

PICTURED: Cann River Community Centre is enjoying its new freestanding stove/oven, thanks to state and shire drought relief funding, as well as new chairs in the multi-purpose meeting/dining room and new security cameras.