Come and look at Whitfield's new Community Hub

The community is invited to an open day at the new Community Hub (Upper King Valley Community Centre) located at the former home of the Whitfield childcare centre and kinder, on Saturday, 25 October from 11am. The centre is officially opening its doors and inviting everyone to come together for a day of connection, fun, learning, wellness and family-friendly entertainment. UKVCH committee secretary Ross Wilson said when the childcare centre and kinder was preparing for its move to the Whitfield and District Primary School, a survey was conducted to find out possible uses for the soon to be vacated facility. He said among the likely users of the centre, to be known as the Community Hub, will be the Sustainable King Valley food hub, which is outgrowing its current home at the Cheshunt Hall. "It would also also be a good building for the use of health services; something which was identified by people who responded to the survey," he said. "While the return of a GP (which once operated from the building) is a nice idea, we know it's more likely those offering ancillary health services." Mr Wilson said the committee would like to engage a few regular users of the recently renovated facility, whose hire or lease payments would adequately cover its running costs. He said the open day was about making sure the committee is addressing what the community wants for the space. "We now have a pretty good idea for what the hub is going to do - and we want to make sure we're heading in the right direction," he said. The new committee is made up of 11 people - nine currently active - plus additional members - drawn from a variety of interest groups in the King Valley region including the childcare service, Sustainable King Valley, Landcare, CWA, as well as interested locals. Mr Wilson said they have been meeting fortnightly undertaking the groundwork to establish the Community Hub, but expect to return to meeting monthly following the open day. He said he was pleased the committee had some very positive and enthusiastic members. "The building has been in Whitfield since the 1950s, and the members are invested in the Community Hub being a success," he said. The open day will be held on Saturday from 11am to 1pm and there will be small handover ceremony along with the opportunity to tour the new space. There will also be pizza, nibbles and hot drinks available as well as kid-friendly activities and performances. People are also welcome to continue to share their own ideas for the facility's future use, including events, education, wellness, celebrations or something else. Mr Wilson said the Community Hub is a work in progress. "While we are in the process of making the space suitable for the Sustainable King Valley food hub, the rest will come afterwards," he said. For more information or to contact the Community Hub, email upperkingvalleycommunitycentre@gmail.com. * King Valley in brief Old School Night Out in Moyhu The Old School Night Out will visit the Moyhu Soldiers Memorial Hall in Moyhu on Saturday, 25 October. Presented by the Rural City of Wangaratta and celebrating local halls and the communities that bring them to life, this year's tour will see the much-loved local band Sweet Buzz filling the hall with songs, dancing and laughter. Doors open at 6.30pm with drinks at bar prices (cash payment, BYO nibbles) with RSVP via text to 0499 367 766. * Free community lunch in Whitfield The Rural City of Wangaratta will hold a community lunch at the Whitfield Recreation Reserve on Wednesday, 29 October at 12pm. Come along, bring your family and friends and have a great day out, socialising, enjoying a meal and perhaps singing and dancing, with live music performed by Jus Gordon. All are welcome to attend this free event, with barbecue and live music, but bookings are required by calling Angie on 5722 0745. * Cheshunt Flower Show in November The Cheshunt Hall and Recreation Reserve committee will present the annual Flower Show at the Cheshunt Hall on Sunday, 2 November from 9am to 3pm. Enter your own exhibits or just come and enjoy the beautiful displays and delicious afternoon tea, with entry by gold coin donation. For enquiries about entries and stall sites (no fee) contact Kayleen on 0417 522 059. * Moyhu Idle Chatters group THE Idle Chatters Group meets on the first Monday of every month at 10am at Ineeta's Café in Moyhu. All are welcome to come and meet and chat with others in the community over a coffee, with the next meeting on Monday, 3 November to also include a talk on the history of Moyhu. Bring along your own old photos, with more information by contacting Max Baker on 5727 9376. *

Come and look at Whitfield's new Community Hub

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