UNITING\u2019s Breezeway meals program will soon open its upgraded kitchen and dining area to their clients, including an upstairs emergency relief facility.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Engage Victoria\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Ballarat based Uniting Victoria-Tasmania general manager Annette Kelly-Egerton said Breezeway\u2019s 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 \u201ccompact\u201d in the extreme.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a very small kitchen, and although there had been support over the years to update the equipment, it was very old,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Kelly-Egerton emphasised the \u201cpotential in this space… for a social enterprise\u201d where hospitality skills could be taught to those in need of employment.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really pleasing that the community of Ballarat has got behind it,\u201d Ms Robertson said.<\/p>\n
The Oliver Family Foundation\u2019s Jill Oliver, also a member of Alfredton Rotary Club, said the new Breezeway building has been a true \u201ccommunity project.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve even had McDonalds and 7-Eleven donate items, as well as a nice little donation of a fridge from Signature Software,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t thank Craig Jenkins and his team at S. J. Weir enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re looking forward to coming in and sitting down with some of Uniting\u2019s clients, talking, listening, and hearing their journey. We\u2019re rapt.\u201d<\/p>\n
The upstairs wet area, including showers and toilets, was fully donated by Central Highlands Water.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UNITING\u2019s 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 […]<\/p>\n