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Bunbury community groups thrilled by five-year State Government commitment

Stuart McGuckinSouth Western Times
Milligan House chief executive officer Renae Bebbington and Bunbury MLA Don Punch.
Camera IconMilligan House chief executive officer Renae Bebbington and Bunbury MLA Don Punch. Credit: South Western Times

Two Bunbury community organisations have been guaranteed State Government funding for the next five years.

Milligan Community Learning and Resource Centre will receive $227,700 each year while $109,595 annually has been allocated to Hudson Road Family Centre.

Milligan Community centre chief executive Renae Bebbington said the fact the money was locked in for five years was a big deal.

“It means we can spend time doing the stuff we are good at instead of writing funding applications and hoping for the best,” she said.

“At different stages in the past we were working year-to-year without knowing whether we would be re-funded.”

Hudson Road centre manager Julie Howells said the funding would allow a project manager to be employed in order to help expand the programs on offer.

“We will be advertising for that role shortly and it will be their role to communicate with the community about what they want us to provide,” she said.

“We’ve got four new programs that we’ve said we’ll start over the next few years, but there will be others as well.”

The money is part of the $5.9 million a year to be delivered to 43 organisations across the State as as part of the Department of Community’s Empowering Communities Program.

Previously the Hudson Road centre had received about $65,000 through a similar department program while the Milligan community centre had received the same level of funding.

Bunbury MLA Don Punch said both centres were highly valued.

“I am very pleased this has been recognised with funding to continue their services to the community,” he said.

“Localised services tailored to local needs are vital for our community and this is what will be supported by this funding.

“A funding commitment of five years will give these organisations financial security to continue to develop and deliver services to meet the needs of our community.”

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