“Doors of welcome and doors of mercy” was how Father Mick Lowcock described the entrance to Cloncurry’s brand new Neighbourhood Centre.
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Speaking at the official opening of Centacare North Queensland’s new 57 Sheaffe St premises, Father blessed the new building during anti-poverty week saying Centacare’s work was really important.
“It not only gives the church the opportunity to be present in another form but also it is a formal way in which we show we care for other people,” he said.
“A neighbourhood centre tries to capture what a community is all about and while Cloncurry might have many neighbourhoods but we hope and dream that this place might become become a neighbourhood too.”
Centacare North director Peter Monaghan said the organisation had moved through several premises in its time in Cloncurry and planning to Sheaffe St had taken about 18 months.
“We’ve had a diverse journey to get to here and I want to acknowledge with council, North West Remote Health and MICRRA we were sharing premises at the precinct, but this building helps us meet the needs of the community,” Mr Monaghan said.
“We’re fortunate and blessed when Leanne (Harris) and Jo (Frame) came on board, they are dynamic operators and active in the community, and this wouldn’t have happened without them.”
After the official ribbon cutting the celebrations continued with performances by the school ukulele group and the JumpStars skipping rope team with a sausage sizzle and free samples from the Centre’s new pizza oven.
Visitors also got to check out new Neighbourhood Centre and see what programs workshops, services and community initiatives Centacare North Queensland has planned.
The centre opened its doors to the Cloncurry community in July of this year.
The idea behind the Neighbourhood Centre is to bring people together to connect, learn and contribute in their local community through social, educational, recreational and support activities, using a community development approach.
It hosted its first community luncheon in August during Seniors Week.
The renowned Indigenous chef Mark Olive put on a bush tucker feast for young and old.