Established in 1875 as the
proudly serving Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay
28 AUGUST, 2024
50 years of community
WCEC’s Dr Mark Brophy, Tracey Osullivan, Amarjeet Brar, Tahlia Kotiau, Anthimos Papadopoulos, Samira Antoun and Lynne Hewet.
Five decades of education, community and support will be celebrated at a special morning tea to mark the 50th anniversary of the Williamstown Community and Education Centre. The event will also feature a short documentary created to mark the milestone. WCEC chief executive Mark Brophy said the documentary would act as a “time capsule” for the centre. He said it would feature stories and anecdotes from staff and participants who have engaged with the centre over the past 50 years. The morning tea will be free and open for everyone in the community to attend. Dr Brophy said the centre has expanded over the past 50 years and now supported three neighbourhood houses as well as offering a myriad of classes, workshops and support programs, most recently extending into food relief. The 50th anniversary celebration is on September 4, from 11am, at Joan Kirner House.
(Ljubica Vrankovic) 422430_01
Bowling pokies set to go By Laura Michell Electronic gaming machines (EGMs) removed from Yarraville Footscray Bowling Club will be added to nearby venues where the gambling losses are “significantly greater”, Maribyrnong’s deputy mayor has warned. Councillor Michael Clarke’s warning came as council adopted a new lease agreement for the club’s Francis Street premises, which requires the club to remove gambling from its facility by the end of 2032. The requirement is in line with council’s gambling harm reduction policy which restricts the presence of gaming machines on council-owned land. The club currently has an EGM entitlement
of 29 machines. According to the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission, $1.9 million was lost on the venue’s EGMs last financial year – the lowest in Maribyrnong. The municipality has an EGM entitlement of 471 machine, all of which are currently allocated to the city’s nine gaming venues. Cr Clarke said it was “wonderful” that the club was transitioning out of gaming, but was concerned about the impact the move would have on the wider municipality. “Once they divest themselves of these machines, they won’t disappear, they will in fact go to another site in the municipality,” he said. “Those machines will go to facilities … where the losses are significantly greater.
“It is a fantastic facility that will hopefully will be able to identify a funding stream going forward that will ensure its sustainability.” Cr Bernadette Thomas said council was clear about its intent to remove gambling harm from the community and the Yarraville Footscray Bowling Club was a venue where council could make a impact as it was on council land. “It is pleasing that the club has worked with council. I want to thank the club for coming to the party,” she said. “It will be interesting to see what they come up with [as part of the transition plan]. “The club does a really great job of providing a space to the community.” The move away from gaming machines has
the support of the club. In a submission to council, the club said it has a robust gambling harm minimisation plan. We are all aware of some of the problems that exist in society today, such as harm from gambling … and of the onus on us to be aware of the role that we must play in responsible gambling through harm minimisation,” the submission stated. “We are however cognisant of the fact that the [council] do not want gambling in their facilities, so, to comply with these guidelines our bowls club will work with nominated [council] representatives to formulate a plan to transition away from having gaming machines in our current council owned facility, against a schedule that is acceptable to both parties.”
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