It’s great news for the Hub this week, with a $400,000 funding grant to renovate and extend the Guyra Neighbourhood Centre, Bradley Street.
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"Getting the grant in and approved will make a huge difference to our capacity to provide space for our community, and for those service providers who outreach to Guyra," coordinator Chris Hietbrink said.
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The Hub, housed in the original Guyra school, is the go-to place for anyone in town seeking help.
Each Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 2pm, Mrs Hietbrink and her staff might work with farmers struggling with drought; tenants threatened with eviction; or elderly couples in need.
Every day, we’re making sure our community is cared for, and that we’re there for them.
- Chris Hietbrink
The Hub provides information and referrals to counselling, support services, and job providers.
It’s somewhere community groups and agencies can meet; a recreational space for youth; and a safe, neutral ground for families and Aboriginal people.
While the Hub plays a vital role in the community, the building is too small.
Service providers have to juggle rooms; youths and AA members are crammed into a back room; and the playgroup can’t fit in at all.
The Hub will receive $400,000 through the state government's Stronger Country Communities Fund, a $200 million government program to improve the quality of life in regional NSW by funding community projects.
“The Hub does a great job, and provides an incredible service for its community where there is often nowhere else for them to go,” Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall said, announcing the funding.
This funding is effectively future-proofing this organisation for its community.
- Adam Marshall MP
The building will be extended by 330 square metres along the rear and side, giving probation and parole officers, disability job providers, and legal advisers their own offices, and psychologists and family support services a permanent space.
A specially built kids’ room will allow the playgroup to come back into the space, while a large main room will give Guyra youths space to meet.
Community groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous can meet in a new boardroom, and a new office will also house the Hub’s IT and reception systems.
An upgraded commercial style kitchen will allow the Hub to run life skills programs, like cooking for youth and hospitality courses.
"The increased use of our space has been critical, because that's what we're there for,” Mrs Hietbrink said. “It's to provide a space for our community, to meet in a safe, neutral space."
Mrs Hietbrink is talking to Barnaby Joyce’s office to find up to $200,000 to complete the fit-out, with eco-sustainable initiatives, furnishings, and new computers.
The Hub also held its annual general meeting on Tuesday, October 16.
The Neighbourhood Centre committee was returned unopposed at the AGM.
Dot Vickery continues as president, Robyn Jackson as vice-president, Shelley Harvey as secretary, and Dell Healey as treasurer.
“It’s been a big year,” Mrs Hietbrink said. “Sometimes you look back, and ask: What have we done? What’s been the highlight? There’re probably 50,000 things!”
Twice this year, she said, people told her: “There’s no way you can help me. You cannot, you will not know what to do.”
One was a tenant threatened with eviction.
Mrs Hietbrink knew just what to do. She talked to the New England and Western Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service, in Armidale – and the tenant wasn’t evicted.
“We welcome anyone,” Mrs Hietbrink said. “Come see us first before worrying about anything, because we probably know exactly where to go!”
Their contacts include rural financial or mental health counsellors. The Hub is also somewhere farmers can find assistance with paperwork.
“People think they don’t know where to go; come to us!” Mrs Hietbrink said.
“If we don’t know, we’ll be able to find out where to go for help. People shouldn’t struggle on their own, particularly in this drought.”
