Bowen Community Centre Officially Open To The Public

Bowen Community Centre is now officially open, with a special ceremony taking place last week.

In attendance were Member for Burdekin Dale Last, and Minister for Communities Leeanne Enoch, alongside local Councillors Jan Clifford and Michelle Wright.

The ceremony boasted more than an additional 30 attendees, with the Bowen Community Centre facilities officially opened.

The Centre is a purpose-built facility, and includes a large kitchen, meeting spaces and offices.

The new building cost $4.3 million, it was completed in late 2022 and has been fully operational since December the same year.

Since its completion, the Community Centre had expanded its program to include Emergency Relief, the No Interest Loan Scheme, Community Connect, an Op Shop, Tuckerbox Food Shop, Tuckerbox Kitchen and Volunteer Program.

It can now also service an additional 44 per cent more people than previously.

Minster Leeanne Enoch explained that “It’s great to hear that the new centre is already improving the wellbeing, resilience, safety and participation of community members by providing a client-centred hub where people can access a more diverse range of services, program, and activities.”

“Among the features of the new centre is a large kitchen, which will assist with the delivery of meals and food relief – a service that is relied upon by many in the community.”

“Other services on offer include advocacy, counselling, community activities, emergency relief, disability support for young people, aged care, domestic and family violence support, family support, youth support and homelessness support.”

Stephanie Cora, Executive Officer of the Bowen Community Centre was excited by the official opening.

“It’s so nice to have a place that’s big enough to accommodate community groups and new programs. From an old Queenslander, where we only had room for five people, to now having meeting rooms fitting up to 60, plus a large, commercially outfitted kitchen – it’s been amazing for our community.”

“We’ve been able to offer so many diverse programs in the last 12 months. This has led to a significant increase in people contacting us, participating in programs, and utilising the facilities. In 2022-23, we had 72,000 contacts, compared to 50,000 in 2021-22,” she explained.

“Being able to cater to the community’s diverse needs with programs tailored to our community, plus the growth we have experience as a centre has been extremely exciting.”

“We are so proud to have a purpose-built centre, which is such a beautiful space that we love and that we can share with the community, demonstrating how much they are valued.”

Dale Last, Member for Burdekin, Christine Coventry, Chairperson of Bowen Community Centre, Stephanie Cora, Executive Officer of Bowen Community Centre, Minister Leeanne Enoch, and John Finlay, Treasurer of Bowen Community Centre. Photo credit: Bronte Hodge