By Brendan Rees
A new flagpole allows Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre (MPLCC) in Cranbourne North to fly the Australian flag for the first time.
The flag was a gift from Federal Member for Holt Anthony Byrne, who said he was honoured to unveil the new flagpole and raise the flag on Wednesday 11 October.
“The VCAL students and community centre members will now be able to hold their own Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services at the centre in Cranbourne to acknowledge the service and sacrifice made by Australia’s servicemen and women,” he said.
“I am always pleased to support local residents and organisations like the MPLCC that aim to respect the Australian Flag and honour and commemorate Australia’s wartime heritage.”
MPLCC was awarded a $1500 grant in 2016 to install a flagpole under the Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grant Program, designed to preserve Australia’s wartime heritage.
MPLCC CEO Jan Gilchrist said she was delighted with the new flagpole.
The flag, she said, would help students appreciate and understand the service and sacrifice of Australia’s servicemen and women in wars, conflicts and peace operations.
“The flag will encourage particularly our young people, our VCAL students to understand what the significance of the flag is and also to be able to use it to do our own little Anzac Day services.”
“We’re very excited now that we’ve actually got it and ready to go,” Ms Gilchrist said.
The centre, which also marked its 25th anniversary this year had recently undergone a $1.15m restoration project to extend and upgrade the facility.
“It’s a wonderful new space in that the foyer now has room for people to actually sit in and congregate and tables to sit and eat their lunch, whereas the students previously had nowhere to go,” said Ms Gilchrist.
“It’s much more welcoming and friendly for people coming in the centre.”
Council invested $1m in the project, with MPLCC contributing the remaining $150,000, to deliver new counselling suites, a modernised external facade of the facility, a new reception area and administration space, an upgraded commercial kitchen, new and additional bathroom amenities including an ambulant bathroom and disabled bathroom with shower, upgrades to the main hall and children’s rooms.
City of Casey Mayor Cr Sam Aziz said the upgrades would enable the centre to better meet the needs of the local community.
“MPLCC is one of Casey’s busiest community facilities; more than 1000 Casey residents visit the centre each week to participate in adult and youth education programs, access the childcare programs or make a booking with the centre’s counselling services,” Cr Aziz said.
