Breezeway build unites community groups

UNITING’s Breezeway meals program will soon open its upgraded kitchen and dining area to their clients, including an upstairs emergency relief facility.

Accessible to people of all abilities via Albert Street, the new two-story space including a commercial kitchen, large social dining area with a polished concrete floor, laundry, showers, and toilets, has been funded and constructed because of community support.

Engage Victoria’s Pick My Project, the Alfredton Rotary Club, the Oliver Family Foundation, the Percy Baxter Charitable Trust, S. J. Weir commercial construction, and Central Highlands Water collaborated with Uniting to make the three-year-old vision a reality.

Ballarat based Uniting Victoria-Tasmania general manager Annette Kelly-Egerton said Breezeway’s previous base further up the Dana Street hill was not accessible for people with disabilities due to a treacherous stairwell, and the cooking area was “compact” in the extreme.

“It was a very small kitchen, and although there had been support over the years to update the equipment, it was very old,” she said.

“We are so looking forward to the potential of people sitting here all together, sharing a meal, sharing connection, sharing relationships, and support for each other.”

Ms Kelly-Egerton emphasised the “potential in this space… for a social enterprise” where hospitality skills could be taught to those in need of employment.

Alfredton Rotary Club, including member Deb Robertson, assisted Uniting in their Pick My Project application, which was well supported when put before the public for votes, alongside other initiatives.

“It’s really pleasing that the community of Ballarat has got behind it,” Ms Robertson said.

The Oliver Family Foundation’s Jill Oliver, also a member of Alfredton Rotary Club, said the new Breezeway building has been a true “community project.”

“We’ve even had McDonalds and 7-Eleven donate items, as well as a nice little donation of a fridge from Signature Software,” she said.

“We can’t thank Craig Jenkins and his team at S. J. Weir enough.

“We’re looking forward to coming in and sitting down with some of Uniting’s clients, talking, listening, and hearing their journey. We’re rapt.”

The upstairs wet area, including showers and toilets, was fully donated by Central Highlands Water.