May 2024
Dear friends of SpringDale and friends I have yet to meet,
SpringDale Neighbourhood Centre Inc has served and worked with and for our community for almost 35 years, beginning in a few homes and progressing to a community hub that approximately 1200 people frequent weekly (maybe even more). We often have 6 different groups, classes or activities happening in our rooms and many one to one services happening in the office.
Our offerings continue to evolve as our community evolves with people and passions driving our programs, groups and classes. When I started at SpringDale, more than 20 years ago, we had 6 special interest groups, advertised 20 classes a term and a few services. Now we have more than 39 Special interest groups, advertise 60 classes and provide a long list of services which keeps getting longer daily.
Volunteers continue to support so many of our offerings, keeping activities viable and also providing a wide range of purposeful programs, giving our volunteers a great sense of community and many new friends.
People come in tentatively and usually leave with confidence ready to come back again and again or take on a new challenge. We try to provide a supportive friendly environment so everyone feels welcome and appreciated. We try to make peoples’ dreams come true if we possibly can.
Our services are many and varied – from simple photocopying, printing, faxing (yes faxing) to copying from home videos to DVDs, helping with telephone questions and MyGov related questions. We hire rooms, tables, chairs, glasses and more. We advocate for infrastructure and for people – at the moment our attention is turned to Footpaths for Drysdale / Clifton Springs.
We work in partnership with hundreds of people, groups, and businesses. Partnerships are very important for us to be able to deliver our programs and for us to help others deliver theirs.
Some people come in for something simple like a photocopy and learn about other activities and come back time and time again. This may help to reduce isolation and help to create community, helping people to feel connected and valued.
We are all about building confidence, this is embedded in everything we do. As we nurture new writers for the Messenger or walk beside new tutors or answer a question at the front counter and offer more help than expected.
Our Vision
SpringDale Neighbourhood Centre, where ideas grow and people flourish.
Our Mission
The SpringDale Neighbourhood Centre is building the capacity and strengthening our community to improve the quality of life for people on the Bellarine.
Our Values
Hope to see you at SpringDale soon.
Yours sincerely,
Anne Brackley OAM
Chief Enthusiasm Officer & Coordinator
SpringDale Neighbourhood Centre Inc.
