Community centre emerges from the ashes

Members of the Garfield North and Cannibal Creek communities have celebrated the official opening of the new Garfield North Community Centre.
Located at Cannibal Creek Reserve, the space is designed to host a variety of local user groups and their activities.
It features a social room, meeting room, kitchen, storage area, accessible toilet and unisex toilets. The space can accommodate up to 80 people.
The West Gippsland Quarter Horse Association, Cannibal Creek Pony Club, Mt Cannibal Adult Riding Club and West Gippsland Australian Stockhorse Branch were among the user groups represented at the official opening, conducted by Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing.
Development on the centre began following the Bunyip bushfires when community members advocated for a new community centre to help them in their recovery.
The State Government committed $1.3 million to the centre from its Growing Suburbs Fund with Cardinia Shire council contributing a further $1 million.
Ms Shing spoke at the centre’s opening, along with Cannibal Creek Reserve committee of management president Garry Burns and Cardinia Shire’s then-mayor Jack Kowarzik.
“I’m so proud to have played a little part in this,” Ms Shing said.
Mr Burns paid tribute to the numerous people who had made the centre possible and worked tirelessly to make it a reality over the past six years.
“I’ve been waiting six years for this event,” he said. “It wouldn’t have happened without the support of everybody.”
Cr Kowarzik said the new facility would support recovery, strengthen connections and provide a welcoming space for community groups to host meetings, events and activities.