This evening I was invited to officially open the new offices of the Eastern Volunteer Resource Centre (EVRC), now located in 36 New Street Ringwood.

The Eastern Volunteer Resource Centre provides information for people that wish to volunteer within our community. The EVRC acts as a referral body for volunteers through matching people with a role that suits their interests and skills and also provides essential social support services, including transport, for people with limited mobility.

The continued success of the EVRC is demonstrated through their need to seek a larger location than their former home at Federation Estate and it was a great honour to be able to open their new offices, located within my ward in Loughnan’s Hill.

Please continue reading this post to view a copy of the speech I delivered at this event:

I would like to welcome everyone who is here this evening to the new offices of the Eastern Volunteer Resource Centre. The strength of our community is demonstrated by the magnitude of its volunteers and it wonderful to see many volunteers and staff here this evening.

The EVRC performs a valuable role in our community through training volunteers and providing transport for people with disabilities, the ill, the frail and the disadvantaged. The EVRC has served Maroondah and the surrounding municipalise for many years and this was recently recognised by council through presenting a Letter Under Seal to acknowledge its 30 years of service.

There are a number of significant challenges this year, with the EVRC reviewing its constitution and activities to ensure that its services meet the needs that are required. In addition, there are already thoughts towards permanent community type accommodation for the organisation and I speak both personally and on behalf of Council in saying that Maroondah City Council will be honoured to work closely with the EVRC to help achieve this goal.

I congratulate the committee of management, staff and volunteers of the EVRC for its continued success and this is clearly demonstrated through the fact the organisation quickly outgrew its previous location at Federation Estate. This new location at New Street, marks a new chapter for the EVRC and I am certain that it will continue to grow and prosper as we look forward to the next 30 years.

It is honour and a privilege to the have the EVRC located within my ward and I am pleased to be able to declare the new offices located in New Street, to be open.