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2002 (c) Peninsula Community Access Newspaper Inc

 

Community centre is opened

 

The Peninsula Community Centre and Peninsula Theatre were officially opened in a ceremony at the theatre last Saturday morning.

Aboriginal performers from Pondii Indigenous Dancers started the ceremony with dance and songs, giving the audience of 120 the opportunity to participate in one dance.

Gosford Council's director of community services, Mr Phil Rowland, welcomed Member for Peats Ms Marie Andrews, representatives from the Ministry for the Arts, the architects and builders, the Woy Woy Little Theatre, and from the community centre association, as well as councillors attending.

This was followed by a welcome by Mr Barry Duncan, secretary of the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council.

President of Woy Woy Little Theatre Mrs Barbara Hickey acknowledged State and Federal grants to the theatre company to help set up the theatre.

"We've already tried it out and its success exceeded expectations," she said.

Long-time theatre member Mrs Pat Gilroy said: "It's a very special day, now that Woy Woy has its own theatre.

"The community is what makes a place and I think this is going to make a huge difference, specially for the young people."

Gosford Mayor Cr Robert Bell said the theatre was only made possible through the implementation of a special rates levy, the "Financial Strategy", five years ago.

"This is part of a 10-year plan for integrated arts facilities for the people of the Gosford LGA."

President of Peninsula Community Centre Inc, Ms Katie Smith, said her organization had provided 27 years of service.

She thanked the Ettalong Beach Club and the Rotary club of Umina Beach for on-going support in fitting out the centre.

"This will be the benchmark for similar facilities throughout Australia," she said.

She said the association needed to be willing to adapt to the changing needs of the community and the new building would give it that opportunity.

Cr Bell said the community centre was fully-funded by Gosford Council and would complement the PCYC building in Osborne Av, Umina, which was also fully-funded by the council.

He expressed the hope that the community would keep coming back as visitors and as participants in activities at the centre.

Mark Snell, April 6