The Bethania Community Centre held their AGM this week with the meeting attracting a good number of members.
The 2020/2021 committee came in with a lot to learn and plenty of development plans to ensure the community Centre was used for the purpose it was created for in the first place, community.
While dealing with the many COVID restrictions and lockdowns, the management committee were able to turn the Centre around from being a hall for hire to growing community involvement and running more events and activities and growing engagement from locals.
New monthly events including a free music morning tea have become a regular occurrence with numbers growing each month. The committee held a free Easter event for families with kids enjoying an Easter Egg hunt in the gardens as well a everyone having a free sausage sizzle.
Bethania Eats launched in June and the first one attracted a large crowd of locals from surrounding areas. Unfortunately, due to COVID the event has not been held since however the team are working to keep it going monthly.
The AGM was a quick meeting with the incoming committee being elected unopposed.
President Lee McKenzie McKinnon said: “When I was elected in 2020, the Centre needed a turnaround from where it was over the past few years.
“While everyone who volunteered for the Centre did their best, and we were left we a positive bank account, there was not a huge amount of community in this Community Centre.
“We were given a one-year lease from Logan City Council and told we needed to make changes.
“As a committee we sat down and planned out events and activities for locals, contacted local retirement villages, childcares and local shop owners and began to build relationships.
“We have listened to locals and are always willing to hear more from everyone on what they would like to see and have here because it is their Centre.
“A new three-year lease has been signed with council and I am thankful to have such a wonderful committee to work with and thank them for their hard work and many hours they put in as volunteers.
“Thank you also goes out to Cr Tony Hall who has been a great assistance with getting things done, Bert van Manen MP who has sponsored events and attended many and to Matt at Bunnings Bethania for ongoing community support.”
2021/2022 Bethania Community Centre Management Committee
President – Lee McKenzie McKinnon
Vice President – Gail McKenzie McKinnon
Secretary – Sharon Hamilton
Treasurer – Peta Tago
Committee Member – Laurence Vanniekerk
Committee Member – Felicia Spurrier
