By ALANA MITCHELSON
YMCA held a luncheon last week to thank its most loyal members for their support over many years of managing the region’s recreation facilities.
The luncheon on Thursday 9 June followed the council’s decision not to renew the YMCA’s tender for the management of Cardinia’s major recreation facilities.
The YMCA has managed Cardinia Life since it opened in 2006 but began working with the Cardinia Shire Council in 1999, starting with the management of the Pakenham Indoor Sports Centre.
Since then YMCA has also overseen the management of the Pakenham Regional Tennis Centre, Emerald Park Lake Wading Pool, Pakenham Outdoor Pool, Kooweerup Outdoor Pool and Garfield Outdoor Pool.
YMCA Victoria manager Chris Hargreaves said that the association currently has about 180 staff members.
“We would estimate that, over the last 10 years, there would have been as many as 500 local people working with the YMCA at the centres we manage in Cardinia.
“Eighteen people have been with us for the whole 10 years. The luncheon was a great way to personally thank them and share some stories about their journey.”
Mr Hargreaves said he was proud to have had the opportunity to be a part of people’s lives in Cardinia, to assist residents in improving their health and to teach them life skills such as learning to swim.
“We are also proud to have provided access to hundreds of Cardinia residents suffering disadvantage to improve their quality of life as a result of the significant fund-raising our staff and volunteers do every day,” he said.
“It is a time of change which has created uncertainty with some staff, while others are embracing the change. Some current staff members are staying on with new management while others have decided to stay with the YMCA at other facilities.”
Aligned Leisure, a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of Richmond Football Club, will take over management of the shire’s eight major recreation facilities beginning next month.
Cardinia Shire mayor Jodie Owen thanked the YMCA for its “significant contribution” to the community over the many years they have managed the shire’s facilities on the council’s behalf.
