Community Centre gets $25,000 from State Govt

Donald Simpson Community Centre gets $25,000 grant from State Government

The State Government will make a one off grant of $25,000 to the Donald Simpson Community Centre so it can continue to support local seniors and contribute to an age-friendly community.

Redland City Council decided to cut operational funding support for the Community Centre in a split vote decision at a general meeting on 19 April 2017.

Councillors who voted to reduce funding were Mayor Karen Williams and councillors Peter Mitchell (Div. 2) , Mark Edwards (Div. 5) Julie Talty (Div. 6) Murray Elliott (Div. 7) and Paul Gleeson Div. 9).

A petition to the Council seeking restoration of funding support was signed by more than 1,500 residents. To date, Council has not reversed its decision to cut funding for the Centre.

Minister visits Community Centre

Seniors Minister Coralee O’Rourke

Visiting the centre today, Seniors Minister Coralee O’Rourke said the one-off grant of $25,000 would help the Centre with activities for local seniors.

“The Donald Simpson Community Centre has more than 1800 members and organises a range of activities, including educational and wellbeing sessions, as well as entertainment for seniors,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“The volunteers are the backbone of the Centre, and I’m proud to be able to announce this one-off funding to support them to continue the fantastic work they do in this community.”

Mrs O’Rourke said the grant would help the Centre to continue to support local seniors and contribute to an age-friendly community.

“This grant will ensure seniors living in the Redlands continue to have access to the services and information they need,” she said.

Donald Simpson Community Centre Chairman Tony Christinson welcomed the grant saying it would help them continue to deliver activities and services for seniors in the region.

“We’re extremely grateful for a grant of that size, which will help us through a difficult time and will help us to make plans to move things forward,” he said.

“This Centre was built 30 years ago as a seniors centre, to help off-set social isolation and give people somewhere to go to take part in activities of their choice.

Mr Christinson said the Centre was a hive of activity every day, and the funding would go a long way to ensuring that continued.

Redlands2030 – 3 October 2017