From Edinburgh to Armstrong Creek: Warralily has new community development officer

IT’S A LONG way from Edinburgh to Armstrong Creek, but Nina Bendon is an expert at making connections.

She’s also across everything from health and well-being services, sports activities and charity fund-raisers to all manner of family and community engagements.

As newly-appointed community development officer at the ever-surging Warralily estate, Nina is in her element helping the young community of over 6500 residents connect at work, rest and play.

Nina also works for the YMCA at the new Armstrong Creek School community hub, which opened in January.

The hub is managed by the YMCA outside school hours to provide before/after school care, holiday and other community programs.

Nina said her YMCA community engagement role is to help people use the hub’s state-of-the-art learning and community facilities including multipurpose conference, therapy and interview rooms.

“I am working with local community groups to help them initiate sports clubs, community groups and social activities in the Armstrong Creek School spaces.”

Her tandem Warralily and YMCA posts aim to kick start connections between residents and with the broader Geelong and Surf Coast community.

“It’s all about creating an independent and sustainable community for the future,” Nina said.

“I also facilitate and strengthen local business connections and embed an understanding of their significance in continued community development.”

Nina lives in Torquay and arrived by way of Scotland where she worked for The University of Edinburgh as sport and exercise membership and marketing manager and, more recently, Melbourne.

“Working with the university my mission was to create a memorable experience for the student body and promote participation and health and wellbeing,” she said.

“I returned to Melbourne and began working for the YCMA, who are passionate about supporting and nurturing connections within the community.

Nina said a great example of the work she does was with local Auskick.

“I have been supporting the establishment of the Armstrong Creek and Mount Duneed NAB Auskick Centre at the Armstrong Creek School.

“Warralily have very generously sponsored their team and are now attracting upwards of 60 participants per session.

“These sessions are not only a place where children can learn the basics of fitness conditioning, how to train and practice and the importance of health and nutrition.

“Families and the community of Armstrong Creek and surrounds will benefit from a local opportunity for safe quality family time, the opportunity to engage with children and other families, enhanced family and non-family support networks and importantly improved community health.

“It’s a very exciting time for the Warralily community. I feel very fortunate to be part of establishing great foundations for the future.

The YMCA is a member of Learning Communities Victoria, a state government-backed partnership aimed at forming strong community connections within development and growth areas such as Warralily.