COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

KIDS SPACE

We have had the biggest year at Kids Space so far! Each term brought new and exciting activities for all the kids to participate in. When we asked the kids what their favourite thing about Kids Space they all shouted various things but what stuck most is each week they did something different, making friends and having fun. We have another fun packed term 1 for Kids Space at North St Marys Neighbourhood Centre. Throughout the 8 week program, each week we set a different theme filled With fun and challenging activities to offer.

MENS SOCIAL GROUP

During Term 4 the men have been busy redoing the garden at Autumnleaf Neighbourhood Centre.  Thank you once again to the boys from the Boys Shed Program for helping with the project. Also a big thank you to the community and to Bryce Roney, the Field Coordinator from Public Spaces Maintenance at Penrith City Council for the generous donation of plants.

CRAFT AT HEART

Craft at Heart have been busy at work this term doing their bit to support our wildlife who have been affected by our recent bushfires, making koala mittens, joey pouches and bird nests that were donated to the Animal Rescue Craft Group. 

  

SENIORS LIVING WELL

During 2019 Seniors Living Well have done many amazing things. We have enjoyed bingo, created fabulous art pieces, gone on outings and shared many stories. On one of our outings we went to Berowra Waters to see a Christmas show. The ladies enjoyed sharing food, listening to live Christmas music and experiencing  somewhere new. They have also enjoyed celebrating birthdays, giving advice and being there for one another. The ladies have had an amazing year and are looking forward to 2020. Also a huge thank you to our volunteer bus driver Ted, that helps make every week  possible. What a great year it has been in Seniors Living Well group.

HAPPY HEALTHY KIDS 

This group have had a fantastic term playing with colourful parachutes, play-dough, yoga, playground fun and plenty of toys, a great partnership between Penrith City Council Children's Services team and Community Junction. We are  looking forward to more fresh-air and creative fun during 2020. 

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Children's Week
During Children’s Week 2019, we held two successful Children’s Week events. One of these events was held at North St Marys Children’s Centre and the other at Colyton Neighbourhood Centre. Both were great events and were enjoyed by workers, caregivers and children most of all. Rooby Roo made an appearance on both days, there was plenty of activities for everyone and the food grazing tables were a hit. Mission Australia and Ability Links also helped at these events providing activities and helping hands. A big thank you to our services and St Marys Band Club for providing us funding for these events. It was a great two days and we hope to do it again in 2020.

Carers Week 

“This Day is My Pamper Day” was held at Autumnleaf Neighbourhood Centre in St.Clair, with over  25 people attending. It provided opportunities for participant to meet with other carers from the local area, develop friendships and start to build strong bonds with each other which will help reduce isolation and not feel alone as a carer. The event empowered participants to improve health and self-care in a supportive and fun environment. The event had self- care guest speakers, health check stations, pamper stations and a stretch class demonstration workshop. Their was a lot of chatting, laughter, a few tears as well as support amongst all the carers who attended. The atmosphere this created was one full of love and joy making participants feel that they were in a comfortable environment to be themselves and breakaway from there carers role.

CHRISTMAS IN OUR COMMUNITY

Christmas Food and Toy Drive 

The 2019 Food and Toy Drive is over for another year. We were overwhelmed and thankful for the generosity of our community who again have donated food and toy items, which were distributed to families and community members in time for Christmas. Community Junction Inc. would like to  thank St Clair Shopping Centre and St Clair Public School for partnering with us again this year as well as local community members who donated to the drive.

Colyton Carols

Colyton Carols 2019 was a spectacular Christmas event hosted by Team Colyton and Community Junction on 7th December 2019. Kevin Dwyer Park Colyton was once again the home of the annual event which was attended by over 800 people who came along to sing, dance,  and celebrate the festive season with their local community. Colyton Carols is a major event in the Colyton community and is successful due to massive collaboration with local businesses, churches, schools and other organisations. We would like to thank all those who made Colyton Carols 2019 such a massive success and we look forward to doing it all again in 2020. 

North St Marys Christmas Event

Santa arrived giving children a big smile during our North St Marys Christmas Event. Over 200 residents joined us at North St Marys Neighbourhood Centre for this free event.  Families enjoyed free popcorn, slushies, jumping castle and having their face painted. During the event a Christmas card could be made or a letter could be written to Santa just to make the afternoon extra special. Thank you to Jo Greenwood from  CTET for providing our lucky door prizes to our community, it is greatly appreciated.

BENNETT ROAD PUBLIC SCHOOL FETE

Team Colyton and Community Junction Inc. were invited to the P&C Fete at Bennett Road Public School.  We had some great conversations with people in the local community whilst enjoying what was on offer from the Team Colyton BBQ. Local residents and visitors had a great day.  Team Colyton is a group of people working together to improve neighbourhood well- being in Colyton. They meet each month at Colyton Neighbourhood Centre.  For more information please contact the centre on 9188 9065.

LIVING WELL GROUP - COLYTON

The group has had a fun filled first half of 2019. So far we have been lucky enough to get some legal tips from Legal aid and Western Sydney Community Legal Centre, find out about outings that are offered to seniors from Great Community Transport, hear about elder’s safety from Nepean Local Area Police and had fun with our Australian Trivia day. Plus we have had outings to Community Junction’s Seniors week event, St Marys Harmony Day event, Bunnings Minchinbury for a gardening workshop, morning tea at Tench Reserve and later this term we will be joining the St Marys Historical Society to learn about all things Penrith / St Marys.  

The group meet at Colyton Neighbourhood Centre everyThursday during school terms.  For more information please contact Nicole on 9188 9065.

HAMPER DAYS

We held our first FREE Hamper Day at Autumnleaf Neighbourhood Centre during August. We had a great response from both residents and service providers. It was a pleasure to see many new faces access our centre and assist our local residents. Be on the lookout for future Hamper Days in Term 4.

Colyton Neighbourhood Centre held their Hamper Day in partnership with Uniting during September to celebrate the start of Spring.  With the skies blue and sunny local residents came along and enjoyed a free healthy lunch, took the opportunity to meet other residents and to have a chat.  Services from the Penrith Local Area provide information stalls and people were able to take home a free food

hamper. Community Junction Inc. and Uniting would like to thank Second Bite for donating the food that went into the hampers, and to all the services that were able to attend the day.

LIVING WELL GROUP COLYTON

The Living Well group had a friendly visit from Cook Parade Children’s Centre in St Clair on Thursday 14^th September at Colyton Neighbourhood Centre.

Our seniors had a good chat to the children over morning tea, had plenty of laughs over some board games of snakes and ladders, snap and guess who. The children concluded the morning by singing to our seniors some of their favourite songs and bid farewell till next time. If you would be interested in  attending The Living Well group on Thursday 10am-12pm at Colyton Neighbourhood Centre please contact TeRina on 9188 9065 or via email terina@communityjunction.org.au

FIRST AID AT COLYTON

Twelve community members attended our FREE First Aid course every Wednesday at Colyton Neighbourhood Centre during September. Students learnt how to bandage, facilitate CPR, bites, burns to name a few. The group have now successfully completed their qualification and now have the basic necessary skills to assist In a emergency situation if required. If you are interested in

completing a TAFE Outreach course please contact Community Junction Inc. or TAFE Outreach at Mt Druitt College to express your interest.

ZEST AWARDS

Team Colyton is a group of like-minded residents, organisations, schools, businesses and Penrith City Council working together to create change and make Colyton a better place. Team Colyton have been busy over the past year since the team was established and were happily surprised to have been nominated for the “Out of the Box” category for The Zest Awards 2017. 

Team Colyton attended the Zest Awards 2017 on February 22^nd at ANZ Stadium which was a great night filled with inspiring people from Western Sydney sharing their stories. Team Colyton walked away with the Highly Commended award for “Out of the Box” category – a proud moment for the Colyton community!

If you would like to know more about the work Team Colyton do or be a part of it, please contact TeRina on 9188 9065 or check out YourSayPenrith.com.au/Colyton

THANK YOU!

We would like to acknowledge and sincerely thank Penrith City Council's Community Assistance Program (CAP), ClubGRANTS NSW and Carers NSW for recent funding.  All funds will gratefully go towards developing and supporting programs within our communities.

 

One of these programs will be our National Children's Week events ‘Play, REaD with Rooby Day’ to be held at Colyton Neighbourhood Centre (Cnr Jensen & Willoughby St) on  Tuesday 25th October 2016 and Nth St Marys Neighbourhood Centre (Cnr Debrincat Ave and Oleander Rd) on Thursday 27th October 2016.

 

Bring the family along and meet Rooby Roo and enjoy a variety of activities such as face painting, baby animal farm, children's entertainment, Rooby's reading tent, show bags and more.  

 

Both events will run from 9:30am - 11:30am.  We'd love to see you there!

 

Our Community Engagement Worker Frances was presented with the cheque from RSL & Ex-Serviceman's Club Ltd CEO Michael Wiezel.

 

 

'BACKYARD BLISS'

Colyton Neighbourhood Centre got a much needed makeover last Thursday. United Way Australia provided the corporate volunteers who enjoyed a day out of the office with the aim of brightening up the neighbourhood centre and make it livelier for people who access it on a daily basis. 

Around 15 volunteers enjoys time outdoors planting 14 grevilleas around the front parameter and installed 2 bench seats outside the front of the building while others painted the inside. A one day makeover has made the world of difference and will put a smile on the face of everyone who sees it.

 

CHILDREN'S WEEK CELEBRATION

Colyton Neighbourhood Centre joined in the National Children’s Week celebrations with their REaD with Rooby Day event. Originally planned as an outdoor event we moved inside due to the morning rain but we have just as much fun. Kids got their faces painted by Maria, a balloon artist made them their favourite characters and James the farmer brought along his baby farm animals for them to feed and pat. Rooby hopped in too and read a book and enjoyed playing with her furry friends. Healthy snack were there and to top off a fabulous event everyone got to take a showbag home. The hall was filled with delight and laughter and parents, grandparents and friends enjoyed a morning of fun.

 If you missed out on the Colyton event we will be having another fun day at Nth St Marys Neighbourhood Centre on Thursday 29^th October 2015 from 9:30am.

A big thank you goes out to Penrith City Council Children’s Services for donating the baby animal farm, United Way Australia for donating children’s books and a balloon twister and to Penrith City Council’s Community Assistance Program (CAP) funding which enables Community Junction to put the event on.

Colyton Open Day.

Despite the very hot weather we had many residents come along to our Colyton Open Day. They got to see the Neighbourhood Centre and make suggestions on what groups, events and services they would like to see running from the space.

 Kids enjoyed face painting and craft while local residents found out more about Team Colyton and other programs that community Junction Inc. has on offer in our other locations. A fun day all round. Thank you to everyone who braved the heat and joined us on the day.

                                  

A big thank you to our Men’s Shed ‘Cecils Place’ for running the sausage sizzle and our volunteers who helped out on the day. It was a fabulous community event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have any suggestions on services, groups and event you would like to see from the Neighbourhood Centre then call the Colyton Community Team on 9188 9065 or email  frances@communityjunction.org.au