Beachside Community Centre Inc. was started in 1986 through a Child Adolescent and Family Health Service (CAFHS) initiated new mothers coffee group. From this group a community centre was established.
With support of Southern Vales Community Health Services and CAFHS the group applied for incorporation and the use of a transportable building left at Moana School grounds for community use. The centre operated from this building with volunteer co-ordinators running programs to meet the needs of the local community. It was soon realised the position of co-ordinator was more time than a volunteer could manage and the Management Committee applied to Family and Community Services for a grant to pay the salary for a part time position. With this grant the Centre operated from this building for 6 years.
Within the Seaford Community Plan a permanent site for Beachside Community Centre was identified as an important part of the human services provision for Seaford. In consultation with Management Committee, a building plan was developed and with a grant from Seaford Community Trust, the new Beachside Community Centre was built. We moved to the new premises in September 1993.
Block funding from FACS to the City of Noarlunga saw a new direction for the management of Beachside. The co-ordinator was employed by Council and seconded to work with the management committee.
In 1996 it was identified that the local community had grown considerably, and Beachside was "bursting at the seams". Extensive consultation with the community was carried out and a steering group formed to collaborate with the council and plan and build a new hall and kitchen extension.
The council (now the amalgamated City of Onkaparinga) has committed a considerable sum of money and knowledge to this project. In February 1998 the plans went out for tender and by February the following year, Beachside had a new hall, the Surf Hall, which could hold 120 people seated, and a new kitchen sited between the original and new hall.
Due to ongoing community confusion regarding the centre's location, Beachside Community Centre Inc. officially changed its name in November 1999 to become the new Seaford/Moana Neighbourhood Centre Inc.
As of January 2000, the centre had one part-time Community Development Officer and the volunteer numbers were up to twenty-five filling over 30 positions including management and it is perpetually evolving.
Relationship with The City of Onkaparinga
A partnership has evolved over a number of years with the City of Onkaparinga. When the current building was built in 1993 it was funded 50% by the Seaford Community Fund and 50% by direct contribution from the City of Onkaparinga.
The City of Onkaparinga owns the building and the Seaford/Moana Neighbourhood Centre Inc. leases the premises from council at a peppercorn rent. The Council's responsibilities include employment of the Community Development Officer, maintenance of the building and surrounds. The Management Committee is integral in managing the day to day effectiveness of the Centre; the applying for and acquitting of funds, the marketing and promotion of activities, the fundraising opportunities and for the purchase of all equipment and assets; this includes all furniture, computers, tables and chairs, the outdoor playground, crockery etc.
The Centre and the council continue to work closely together on a number of projects and the City of Onkaparinga continues to fund via the committee many of the activities that happen at the Centre.
Where does the money come from?
As previously mentioned we receive substantial financial support from the City of Onkaparinga; wages for the CDO, Grants, support for building maintenance etc. The Centre is fortunate to have attracted one off funding from several sources over the years these include Community Benefit SA, Morialta Trust, The Department of Further Education Employment Science and Technology (ACE), The Premiers Department, Volunteer small equipment fund to name a few.
The Committee and CDO are continually researching funding opportunities via grant applications and sponsorships. The Centre is also hired out for use by other groups, users and even for parties and weddings. The Courses and activities that are run at the Centre have a charge with them, where we can these charges are kept to a minimum if we can cover the costs of running the program that is all we will charge. Of course the funding we receive is used to reduce costs when possible. And any money that is made at the Centre via fundraising or for hall hire is also channelled back into the running of the Centre and the various activities that are organised.
