‘A new home’: South Shepparton Community Centre settles into new facility at Vibert Reserve

By James Kleeman

Feb 2, 2023

Moving house: Volunteer Marcela Estiler, manager Dawn Taylor, volunteer and op-shop co-ordinator Dorothy Shipston, volunteer Hem KC, finance officer Neil Lumsden and president Mheganne Lumsden outside the new home of South Shepparton Community Centre. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

After more than 37 years at its well-known Service St facility, South Shepparton Community Centre has moved into a new home.

Last Friday, February 3, Greater Shepparton City Council officially unveiled its Vibert Reserve pavilion, which is purpose-fitted to house the community centre and a number of local sporting clubs.

Mheganne Lumsden, president of South Shepparton Community Centre for the past seven years, said the relocation was a significant moment in the group’s history.

After being told by the Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing in 2018 that its Service St building was no longer fit-for-purpose, Ms Lumsden said the group had worked tirelessly in recent years to secure its longevity.

“Over the years the need for the centre has continued to grow,” Ms Lumsden said.

“So when the department told us we had to move, it was pretty devastating news.

“We immediately started exploring what we could do to find a new home; after about 18 months council came on board with us and offered us this space.

“They were planning on redoing the sports area at the back and felt they they could extend that out the front and give us a new home that would be ours, possibly for the next 37 years and beyond.”

The Vibert Reserve pavilion project included an extensive three-stage development, which is estimated to have cost more than $4 million.

Leading the way: South Shepparton Community Centre president Mheganne Lumsden. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Funding for the project was supported by the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stage one of the project began in 2009, with stage three officially completed last year.

Ms Lumsden said council had supported the neighbourhood house every step of the way.

“Council have been fantastic to work with,” she said.

“They worked hard with the architect to make sure the centre got everything it needed; we couldn’t move into something that wasn’t going to serve us and the community for the future.

“They support the centre a lot, I can’t emphasise that enough, we’re very grateful for what they have come up with and the end product is certainly worth all the sleepless nights.”

The centre opened its doors to the community this week, and has a range of community classes and services already on offer throughout the week.

Through its Learn Local program, the centre provides pre-accredited training for adults looking to return to study, improve digital, reading, writing and maths skills, get a job, change careers or learn something new.

Shepparton FoodShare also works closely alongside the group, which can now provide emergency food relief services through its new kitchen and food storage facilities.

But perhaps most importantly, Ms Lumsden said, the centre had fostered a community since its inception 37 years ago, one that looked to stand the test of time.

“We still have some of our original people who started coming to the centre 37 years ago that still come to this day,” Ms Lumsden said.

“People have come here that have been absolutely broken, we’ve seen them grow and find happiness again, which is beautiful.

“The centre will always offer a hand to those who need it.”

• South Shepparton Community Centre is located at 290-300 Archer St, Shepparton, next to GOTAFE. If you’d like to get in touch with the centre, phone 5821 6172 or email administrator@southcom.org.au