Media Release

One fateful Monday morning, a Board member opening up the Berkeley Vale Neighbourhood Centre noticed pools of water in the hallway. Upon opening the store room there was even more water pooled on the floor.

One of their four freezers owned by the Berkeley Vale Neighbourhood Centre, in which food for the needy is kept, had disastrously thrown in the towel. Luckily, much of the food was still frozen, but something had to be done.

He contacted the volunteers who were to be on duty, and they quickly arrived. The water was promptly mopped up and the frozen food was thoroughly checked, discarding any potentially harmful food and the remainders were prepped for cooking. Fortuitously, the following day, there was a Tuesday breakfast planned for the children at the school opposite the Centre.

The breakfast is one of the activities undertaken by the Berkeley Vale Neighbourhood Centre each week, except during school holidays. Thankfully, little was wasted and the school children had a great breakfast. But the centre still needed a new freezer, so they can continue to serve their community.

Freemasons on the Central Coast (FotCC) who had previously helped the Centre, were contacted and an application for a new freezer was completed. The freezer was delivered and installed at the Centre as soon as was possible, with an additional donation of a water pump to assist with the watering of their community garden at Berkeley Vale. On 13 August, FotCC were invited to the Centre for morning tea where Kate and Angela were on hand to thank Leigh, Chris and Graeme, Directors of FotCC, for their support and to provided them with a tour of the facilities.

The centre was specifically designed to be community friendly and provides many useful services to the local areas of Fountaindale, Chittaway Point, Berkeley Vale and Glenning Valley.

These services include:

• The Bilby Toy Library where membership holding parents and guardians may borrow up to 4 toys;
• A Community Garden, run by volunteers at Berkeley Vale;
• Activity Groups: which includes a Play Group for children aged from 0 – 5 years; first-time Mother’s Group, fun classes using gym equipment from 2 – 5; and vocational care for school children during school holidays;
• Community Information and community services referrals to those who request assistance;
• Walking Groups for adults;
• a Library;
• Clothing for both children and adults – for a small donation; and
• the provision of food and hampers.

The Berkeley Vale Neighbourhood Centre does an amazing amount of work to help serve their community and FotCC are always thrilled to be able to help them in any way they can, as well as those community organisations with similar aspirations.