Connect with the Dereel community

RESIDENTS of Dereel and surrounds will have the chance to reunite, or introduce themselves to one another later in the month, after many COVID forced delays.

Originally planned for six months ago, the Dereel Community Open Day will take place on Saturday, 19 March from 12pm to 3pm at the community halls precinct.

Locals are invited for an afternoon of meeting and greeting neighbours and grassroots groups, including members of the Dereel Art Community.

Dereel Community Hub Incorporated’s secretary David Jaunzems is hoping at least 100 people from the broader area will come along.

“We’re looking forward to it and hope it will be a success, getting people out of their homes,” he said.

“The community centre services residents from far and wide, from the Men’s Shed to art classes, judo and fitness sessions, and we’d like to introduce more people to what’s on offer.”

Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle, representatives of the Golden Plains Shire, and drug and alcohol counsellors will be available for a chat, while Dereel Art Community will have displays in the main hall, lead workshops, and sell work.

A paramedic will be available to give residents blood and sugar tests, the Geelong Regional Libraries mobile library will be on site, the Dereel Men’s Shed and CFA will run a free barbecue and open their facilities, and the Hub Cafe will provide free refreshments.

Mr Jaunzems said there are lots of new residents in the area that the DCHI would like to connect with.

“A lot of younger people have moved here. We’d like them to come and meet the locals, become involved with the community and our committees, and share their ideas,” he said.

“There’s only four of us on the DCHI committee, so we’d like more people to work on projects with us.”

The DCHI received a grant from the Golden Plains Shire to facilitate the social afternoon.