Not-for-profit organisation Whittlesea Community Connections, WCC, is inviting all former staff, volunteers, and partners to celebrate 50 years of giving back to the community.
A celebration will be at Epping Memorial Hall to recognise the ongoing work of its staff and volunteers who dedicate themselves to the Whittlesea community.
A reunion will start at 2pm, with food, children activities, and commemoration of the organisation’s history and achievements – including documents and awards since the organisation first started in 1973.
WWC first began as the Citizens Advisory Bureau – an initiative of a local inter-church council – with members of churches across the municipality recognising there was a need for a service that would support residents to access services.
Over time WCC expanded its services and now has more than 300 volunteers to deliver critical support services, including food relief and legal services, and collaborates with businesses, organisations and the City of Whittlesea.
WWC president Emmanuel Gauci said there was a strong emphasis on building a city and supporting people at WCC.
“We started as community information, we expanded into settlement services for migrants and then refugees – that program has continued to this very day – and through that work, we’ve identified other issues of concern, like family violence – we’ve built skills and expertise in that space,” he said.
“We’ve gotten deeper in the range of services we offer and we build stronger connections with our community.
“It’s been a lot of hard work by members of the community supported over the years by a really committed group of professional staff.
“It’s working together, everyone having a common goal to make Whittlesea a better place to live in.”
All while making meaningful connections with the wider community, Mr Gauci said WCC was ‘very strong’ when it came to its partnerships.
“We don’t pretend to be the source of all knowledge, wisdom, and we work with other agencies and other groups,” he said.
“In the emergency relief area, we’re part of the Whittlesea emergency relief network, so we work with the church groups and other groups in the community.
“We do that across all of the fields of work that we do – whether its employment, or settlement services, young people, accumulate information or food.”
Mr Gauci said the reunion was for people to catch up, as well as celebrate the success of the organisation.
The WCC 50th year celebration will be on December 3, between 2pm and 5pm, at Epping Memorial Hall.
To RSVP, by November 24, contact jmathew@whittleseacc.org.au or call on 9401 6666.
