Community centre opens at school

Umina Schools as Community Centre was officially opened by Member for Peats Ms Marie Andrews on Thursday, August 12.

The new facility, located in the grounds of Umina Public School, is a school-based local community centre for families with children from birth to eight years old.

The service offers a range of activities and group programs to promote healthy, happy families and give children a positive start to school.

The centre has parenting groups, playgroups, support groups for mothers, fathering workshops, coffee mornings, TAFE Outreach courses and hobby and craft groups.

The centre also has information and a referral service for children and families, transition programs for parents and carers of children starting school, community events and cultural celebrations.

Ms Debbie Notara is the facilitator of the new community centre.

"Our centre would not work if it didn't have the support of other government and non-government organisations such as Department of Health, TAFE and Uniting Care Burnside," she said at the opening.

Others to speak at the opening were Umina Public School principal Mr John Blair, Ms Andrews and Ms Maree Roberts, the deputy regional director for Hunter and the Central Coast Department of Education and Training.

Mr Gabby Duncan from the Aboriginal community on the Peninsula performed a smoking ceremony and Umina Public School recorder group gave a performance.

Currently USaCC is running a number of free courses.

What Makes Toddlers Tick is on Wednesday, August 25, from 10am to noon.

Ideas for Parents runs Wednesdays 12.30pm to 2.30pm from August 25 to September 5.

Fathering in the New Millennium is one session on Monday, August 30.

Mum's the Word is a support group for pregnant women and with babies up to two years held fortnightly on Tuesdays from August 24.

Where to from Here is a TAFE outreach course for people wanting to re-enter the workforce being held on Fridays from 9.30am to noon until September 24.

Playpower for children aged up to three years will be held on Tuesday, August 31, from 10.30am to 12noon.

A coffee and chat morning will be held on the third Thursday of the month at 9.30am.

An Aboriginal-supported playgroup will be held on the first and third Tuesday of the month from 9.30am to 11am.

A Peninsula Twins Club meets on the fourth Monday of each month from noon to 2pm and Grandfriends day is Thursday, August 26.

Flyers, August 19 Umina SaCC