For three years the Blackroo Community Indigenous Corporation has been operating out of volunteers’ sheds, spare rooms and anywhere else they could find space.
But this week they officially opened the Blackroo Community Haven in Market Street in the old Fire Station.
It was an emotional morning for Blackroo community engagement officer De-anne Douglas who spoke about how simply saying thank you to everyone, especially the Mach Energy Aboriginal Community Development Fund, who has supported the vision does not seem enough.
“I really can’t put it into words, I just can’t tell you what a difference this makes,” she told those gathered for the occasion.
“When I got that phone call to say that the commissioner had signed off on the lease for us to take over this place, it started that journey that you guys have been on and have been so patient as we’ve been trying to find exactly the right place to be able to have this Haven.
“It’s called the Blackroo Community Haven for a reason, because it’s here for the whole community, not just indigenous people, but for the whole community, the amount of people that we are now going to be able to support with our programs is absolutely massive.”
The New Beginnings program which provides furniture and essential items to families escaping domestic violence and homelessness, and supplies for both the school bags and the DOCS essentials bags will all be able to be stored and packed in one place.
Disability support groups will also be able to use rooms to run programs, as well as a range of other opportunities that are now possible thanks to having more space at their disposal.
