The new Bowen Community Centre building is getting close to completion, with contractors now at the fitting out stage.
The new centre on 34-38 Gregory Street – which will be the future base of operations for Bowen Neighbourhood Centre - is now seeking donations from locals.
The non-for-profit said donations will be used to fit out the building’s features, including new technology, furnishings, and other resources necessary to ensure full function and responsivity for the needs of our community.
Along with new facilities, the new centre will home a Cooinda Family Centre, as well as a Tuckerbox Food Shop, a Bowen Community Op Shop – just like its current locale on Williams Street.
Coordinator Bowen Neighbourhood Centre Stephanie Cora said it would be a “one-stop shop” for providing the community with everything needed to enjoy both its already existing services and activities, as well as new ones.
“The new building will continue to provide support to those members of our community experiencing hardship such as homelessness, family violence, and food insecurity,” Ms Cora said.
“At Christmas time alone, more than one hundred and sixty families and individuals, including our elderly, receive gift hampers funded through the Bowen Community Op Shop.”
Other services to be offered at the new centre will include no interest loans for essential items including fridges, heaters and car parts and assisting our clients to access the range of resources and services available through other support agencies.
Chairperson of the Bowen Community Council Inc., Christine Coventry said having a new purpose-built Neighbourhood Centre in Bowen is going to “open up so many extra opportunities for our community.”
“We thank the Dept of Communities for their foresight in recognizing the need in Bowen, and we thank community members who have already donated,” Ms Coventry said.
“To have all the existing activities like Cooinda Family Centre, the Bowen Community Op shop, The Tuckerbox Food Bank, plus so much more, all on one site, will be such a benefit to the whole community.”
All donations made to support the new Bowen Community Centre are tax-deductible and receipts will be issued for all donations received.
If you would like to financially support the fit-out of the new Bowen Community Centre you can donate here: www.gofundme.com/f/the-bowen-community-centre
The new Bowen Neighbourhood Centre is closing in on completion, with fitting out stage now taking place
A markup of what the Centre will look like upon completion
