North Blackburn Community Action Group
On 20 May 1975 the City of Nunawading held a public meeting at Blackburn High School to discuss possible community facilities in Blackburn North. Five hundred people attended the meeting and forty people formed the North Blackburn Community Action Group (NBCAG).
Initiatives
NBCAG held the first of its monthly meetings on 9 June 1975 with the aim of establishing a community centre in North Blackburn. The group conducted a community survey, produced a newsletter and liaised with Nunawading City Council, local schools, Nunawading Lions Club and Blackburn Tree Preservation Society.
Among many projects NBCAG:
In November 1977 NBCAG received the keys to Koonung Cottage (also known as Methodist House or Church House).
By late 1979 the number of NBCAG members was dwindling and the group disbanded.
Among many projects NBCAG:
- Supported a local swimming pool and fitness trail.
- Considered use of vacant land purchased and leased by Council (Board of Works land in Slater Avenue and Old Orchard Army land respectively).
- Initiated and developed Cootamundra Walk at Williams Road Reserve.
In November 1977 NBCAG received the keys to Koonung Cottage (also known as Methodist House or Church House).
By late 1979 the number of NBCAG members was dwindling and the group disbanded.
NBCAG members
The following names are recorded as present in the minutes of one or more NBCAG meetings. (Records are incomplete.)
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Atkinson, J
Augustine, L & M Bacon, M Baker, M Bates, B Bone, C Caulfield, T Chappell/Chapple, T Clowes, J Cox, G Crane, V (newsletter) Droster, R Ewins, V |
Glennie, M
Grogan, B Hacking, Mrs Hall, D Hillard, P Homberg, T Irving, H Jamieson, J (Lions) Jarman, A Kirshner, L Kozlofsky, N Lowe, I Marriott, K |
May, T
McCracken, P McCrae, J McCrae, V (Access) McDale, A McKinnon, D Miller, E Moloney, R Morissey, P Neilson, G O'Neill, R Palmer, Jean Patterson, B |
Prohansky, E
Roach, Carol (Access) Schmidt, Mr L & Mrs M Schroeder, A Smith, D (Council) Thyer, R Trueman, C (Tree Pres) Trueman, M Valentine, J Van Den Berg, M Vincent, H Witherspoon, M Zilko, M |
Koonung Cottage management
Koonung Cottage sprang from a community need for a meeting place for playgroups, mothers, teenagers, elderly citizens and migrant language classes. NBCAG formed the initial management committee, the North Blackburn Lions Club provided assistance with repairs and maintenance and various groups and individuals donated furniture.
It keeps the community together. |
Koonung Cottage is run by a voluntary committee of management. Since Koonung Cottage opened as a community facility the coordinators and committee volunteers have managed building extensions and upgrades as well as applying for various funding grants to keep the Cottage operating. They do this in a changing regulatory environment that includes child-care regulations, food handling, goods and services tax and privacy policies.
The Cottage is a non-profit community organisation and receives financial support from the City of Whitehorse and the Victorian Department of Human Services. Users provide funding through class contributions, venue hire and fundraising.
The Cottage is a non-profit community organisation and receives financial support from the City of Whitehorse and the Victorian Department of Human Services. Users provide funding through class contributions, venue hire and fundraising.
Koonung Cottage Co-ordinators
Enid Miller, the NBCAG Secretary, was the voluntary co-ordinator of Koonung Cottage from its inception until 1987. A Community Services grant was used to fund the twelve-month appointment of Jan Plummer in 1983 to help develop the Cottage. The Committee of Management and Council recognised the need for a paid coordinator and Mary Roberts took up the role in 1987. When Mary retired in October 2014, Carolyn Shaw became the new manager.
Koonung Cottage Community
Community is at the heart of Koonung Cottage. The Cottage emerged from a community that was willing to work to make things happen and it has evolved to reflect changing interests of the community. Volunteers have contributed many hours towards the cottage.
Koonung Cottage also supports the community. Staff and committee members have participated in research projects and are actively involved in:
The following names are recorded as present in the minutes of one or more Koonung Cottage committee meetings. (Records are incomplete.)
Koonung Cottage also supports the community. Staff and committee members have participated in research projects and are actively involved in:
- Association of Neighbourhood House Learning Centres (ANHLC).
- Community Houses Association of the Outer Eastern Suburbs (CHAOS).
- City of Whitehorse Neighbourhood Community Houses (COWNCH).
The following names are recorded as present in the minutes of one or more Koonung Cottage committee meetings. (Records are incomplete.)
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Brinkworth, Diane
Clark, Faye Emins, Vera Fyffe, Cathy Gibson, Robyn Green, Christine Green, Peta Hall, Helen |
Halsall, Marilyn
Harrington, Anita Huston, Lesley Marsden, April McCosh, Janet Miller, Enid Moorfoot, Anthea Morgan, Margaret |
Naysmith, Jean
O’Connor, Patrick Onions, Linda Parsons, Jean Paton, Laurice (AMBA) Priestley, Margaret Roberts, Joan Roberts, Mary (Co-ordinator) |
Shirley, Judy
Stott, Margaret Sullivan, Dale Van Der Westhuizen, Esme Wooller, Lynn |
Sources:
- History of North Blackburn Community Action Group and Koonung Cottage Community House, Enid Miller. Typed manuscript held in Koonung Cottage records.
- Minutes of meetings of North Blackburn Community Action Group, 9 June 1975 - 21 February 1979. Incomplete records held at Koonung Cottage.
- Minutes of meetings, Koonung Cottage Community House Committee 30 November 1987 - 6 June 2005. Incomplete records held at Koonung Cottage.
- Comments from Mary Roberts, May 2015.
