Community centre first for Lockyer

The Beryl Grant Community Centre building officially opened this week, the first facility completed at the new community service hub in Lockyer.

The community centre building is a multipurpose facility that aims to cater to the needs of the growing population and the diversity of the community in Albany.

The $3.5 million centre comes with multipurpose function rooms, a workshop space, a cafe, kitchen facilities and a barbecue area.

The facility will also provide office accommodation for Uniting Church agency UnitingCare West to boost its capability in providing services to the community.

Juniper media adviser Roley Meyers said the aged-care group was taking this step in order to respond to community demand.

“We are more than just an aged- care home and we want to add value to the community,” he said.

There are also plans for a 100-bed aged-care home on the site.

The hub will be located right next to Juniper Boronia Court, an aged-care facility with 28 occupied units.

Juniper chief executive Vaughan Harding said the project also acknowledged the great contribution of Miss Beryl Grant, a female pioneer of community service in WA.

“The Beryl Grant Community Centre is a place where people can meet and families can gather,” he said.

“There are openings for local groups who are invited to take up space to offer their services from the centre.”

Miss Grant is also a former national president of the Royal College of Nursing.

Her enormous achievements and contributions have been recognised with many awards.