VLCRC NEWS VARSITY LAKES COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTRE Empowering Our Community Through Social Inclusion |
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As we approach the end of 2023, we would like to reflect on the impactful journey we have shared at the VLCRC throughout the year and how community development is at the heart of everything we do. From innovative new programs, heartfelt initiatives, workshops and fun events our achievements highlight the dedication of each member and volunteer. While these highlights do not capture every achievement, act of kindness, lives improved, or support provided, they do offer a glimpse into the incredible happenings at our community centre. Wishing you a safe and joyous Christmas and New Year. CEO - Elli Gardner |
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WELCOME PICNICOn a sunny Saturday in February, we joined in a celebration of diversity with a Welcome Picnic hosted by You Belong – an organisation dedicated to empowering refugee Waymakers to have success in inclusive communities. This Welcome Picnic aimed to warmly welcome refugees to our community and embrace our unique and diverse tapestries. The picnic showcased a delightful array of tasty food, live music, a jumping castle and vibrant Middle Eastern dancing. We thank You Belong for inviting us to be part of this endeavor towards building a more inclusive community. | | |
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EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZAWe joined forces with Air Care and the City of Gold Coast to host an Easter Eggstravaganza right in our local Frascott Park! Amidst the vibrant festivities, VLCRC set up a stall with Varsity Vegies – Community Garden, offering snags, homegrown preserves and garden plants. The VLCRC Easter Bunny made a special appearance creating a buzz of egg-citment and posing for photos with both the young and old. What a fabulous event to be involved with. This collaborative effort not only showcased the unity within our community, but also highlighted the importance of partnering with other local organisations. Together we have the power to make a more significant collective impact in supporting the specific needs of our community. |
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UNIVERSITY STUDENTSThroughout this year, we have been fortunate to host 10 university students, providing valuable support to enhance their practical phase of university studies. Among them were passionate individuals pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work, as well as two dedicated students completing a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy – a new emerging practice in the community development space. We take pride in contributing to their educational journey, fostering an environment where they can apply their theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios. We extend our heartfelt thanks to each student for their time, dedication, and the positive energy they brought to our community and wish them every success in their future endeavors. |
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VOLUNTEERING In May, we celebrated National Volunteering Week with an incredible gathering of over 50 dedicated individuals who are the cornerstone of our community center. Under the theme "The Change Makers," we took a moment to express gratitude to our volunteers with a special morning tea and a fun game of music trivia. Joining our volunteer team is an open invitation to make meaningful contributions, develop new skills, and foster genuine connections. Visit us to learn about volunteering opportunities or click below to share your details. | | |
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COMMUNITY CHOIR - INSPIRE! We have had the pleasure of hosting a brand-new community choir on the Gold Coast. Inspire! A dementia-friendly choir. This incredible initiative is led by the passionate and talented Jan Gillies, who warmly invites people living with dementia, and their care partners to come and experience the joy and benefits of singing together. Rehearsals are not just about singing; they are about creating lasting memories, forging connections and embracing the uplifting benefits of music in a supportive environment. Their music has been filling the community centre hall fortnightly on Thursdays and it is a delight to have them. We look forward to seeing them back in the new year and fostering a place where music brings people together, transcending the challenges of dementia. If you are ready to be part of something truly special, we encourage you to reach out to Jan and her wonderful team! |
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NOURISHING OUR NEIGHBOURHOODIn August we were excited to launch “Nourishing our Neighbourhood” – a collaboration with SecondBite and Woolworths Robina aimed at reducing food waste, giving food a second chance and alleviating the burden of high food prices. Thanks to the dedication of our team and volunteers we have fresh produce, selection of breads and non-perishable items available for collection on Monday mornings. A community member expressed, “Cost of living is hitting our family hard, this service is helping ease a little of what we are experiencing…” Please note: we will be taking a break while the centre is closed, but food collections will resume in the New Year on Monday 22 January at 9:00am. |
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BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONSOctober ushered in a whirlwind of excitement as our community centre celebrated its 42nd birthday! We are delighted to announce that, collectively, Neighbourhood and Community Centres in Queensland have supported over 2 million visitors this year and we take great pride in being an integral part of this incredible community! To commemorate this milestone, we treated our fantastic community members with free coffee and cupcakes. Our celebration extended beyond sweet treats with events dedicated to Seniors Week, fostering intergenerational connections, promoting digital literacy initiatives, our Social Art group helped us create a captivating community art project and dedicated efforts to combat social isolation. Teaming up with Be Connected and the talented students from Arcadia College, we provided free one-on-one tech help ensuring that everyone feels empowered and connected in our ever-evolving digital world. |
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NEW EQUIPMENTWe extend our sincere gratitude to the City of Gold Coast and Councillor Vorster for catapulting us into the 21st century by enhancing our audiovisual capabilities! This state of the art interactive whiteboard is a valuable addition and will greatly support our efforts in conducting training and workshops at the centre. |
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SEW CREATIVEFor over four years, the remarkable Sew Creative group at VLCRC have been coming together weekly to donate their time and talents. Their purpose is to create and sew items to give to local charities. This year they started a new partnership with Waijungbah Jarjums Child Health, a co-designed, culturally safe maternity and child health service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In conjunction with the Queensland Government they provide essential antenatal and postnatal support to mothers. Sew Creative has contributed by sewing and donating bibs, burp cloths, nursing pads, wraps and play mats to be given to new mothers. We express our gratitude to Sew Creative for generously sharing their talents to support others. |
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OUR HALL GETS AIRCON!In September, we celebrated a cool transformation in our hall with the installation of air conditioning!! A big thank you to the City of Gold Coast and the dedicated efforts of Councilman Vorster for their commitment to enhancing our center facilities. With this upgrade, our community can beat the heat and enjoy events, classes and gatherings in refreshing comfort. |
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HOLIDAY WORKSHOPSDuring every school break we continued to transform our hall into a hub of excitement, creativity, and imagination with our vibrant workshops for primary school aged children. This year 240 kids engaged in exploring the wonders of each of our 4 seasons, the magical world of Harry Potter, celebrating the spookiness of Halloween and the joy of Christmas. Each workshop featured unique art and craft experiences. Missed out on the fun? Stay in the loop for our upcoming 2024 workshops by liking our Humanitix page. | | |
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SPOOKTACULAR EVENTOur recent annual Family Halloween Event was a spine-tingling success, growing both in size and spookiness each year. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our dedicated team and the creative genius of the extraordinary Roz, her innovative ideas and designs transform our event into an unforgettable Halloween experience. Families were treated to an array of free activities, trick-or-treating, fortune teller, jumping castle, disco, balloon twister, face painter, Halloween craft, scary photo props and a haunted hallway! A special acknowledgement goes to the LEOS Club from Robina State High School who fed the crowds with snow cones, fairy floss and popcorn. Additionally, we extend our gratitude to Seconds Count First Aid, who ran our Boo Boo Station and ensured everyone’s safety. Thank you once again for supporting our events and coming together as a community. |
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FREE TECH HELP!Exciting news! Thanks to the generous funding from Be Connected our free Tech Help program has received a significant boost to empower older Australians in our digital world! Be Connected is an Australian government initiative committed to building the confidence, digital skills and online safety of older Australians. People have access to free online courses and resources on everything from how to use your smartphone or tablet to cyber safety tips. We are committed to supporting everyone confidently using technology, staying connected to family and friends and feeling secure online. To book a one-on-one session on Tuesdays and Thursday please call the VLCRC. |
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DISASTER PREPAREDNESSDisasters don’t wait, and neither should you, In collaboration with the City of Gold Coast we have been actively educating our community on the importance of disaster preparedness. In November, we organised a free First Aid Certificate Course, offering community members to acquire life-saving skills and enhance their disaster resilience. We extend our gratitude to the City of Gold Coast for their support in taking proactive steps to strengthen the capacity of our community and ensure preparedness for disasters. |
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MEET OUR TREASURERWe are delighted to announce Ara’s appointment as the newest addition to our Management Committee, where she will be taking on the role of Treasurer. Ara’s commitment and innovative perspectives will undoubtedly enhance our mission. As we extend a warm welcome to Ara, we also take a moment to express our gratitude to Aaron, who has been an unwavering support to our cause for more than four years. Aaron's significant contributions have left a lasting imprint, and we sincerely appreciate his dedication and hard work. We would like to thank our entire Management Committee Board for their contributions this year, with special recognition for our President, Chris. His tireless efforts are both recognized and integral in supporting the continual growth of the VLCRC. |
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OUR INVALUABLE MEMBERS Reflecting on the accomplishments of 2023, we express gratitude to the 222 VLCRC Members whose contributions have greatly enhanced our centre. In the spirit of joyous celebration, our recent Member Christmas Party provided a wonderful opportunity to come together for delectable food, great music and festive activities. We thank those that donated non-perishable items to support local families during the Christmas season. Our annual membership is priced at $10 and will begin on 1 January 2024 – 31 December 2024. We invite you to renew your membership or initiate a new membership – please see reception for more details. Your membership not only provides you with a financial advantage with reduced costs to our social inclusion programs, but also plays a crucial role in sustaining our ongoing initiatives. Thank you for being an integral part of our centre. |
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WATCH THIS SPACE - COMING IN 2024!! |
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COFFEE COMES TO VLCRCIn 2024, prepare for the grand unveiling of our coffee cart social enterprise, Bean Waiting For You! The aromatic essence of freshly brewed coffee will soon be filling the air. |
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NEW BUILDINGSay farewell to the old demountable building out the back, because the City of Gold Coast is swapping it for a fresh, custom-built multipurpose space! Construction will start early 2024. |
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VLCRC CHRISTMAS CLOSURE DATES Friday 22 December 2023 - Sunday 14 January 2024 We looking forward to seeing you in the new year... |
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