Warm welcome for birthday

By Shaun Inguanzo
IT WAS chilly outside but warm with memories inside at the Noble Park Community Centre’s 50th birthday celebration last Sunday.
More than 150 people flocked to the centre to help commemorate the occasion, including councillors, politicians and residents who have used the centre throughout its half-century history.
Noble Park Community Centre coordinator Sue Dixon said the day was a success despite the cold weather outside.
However, with the memorabilia and historical displays inside the centre, the day was warm in more ways than one.
Ms Dixon said the 50th birthday would be further commemorated by a DVD and history book, both outlining the centre’s pivotal role in providing leisure and recreation for the Noble Park township.
Five Noble Park residents each representing a decade of the centre’s lifespan helped cut a large fruitcake made locally to mark the occasion.
A special garden unveiled on Saturday complete with commemorative plaque will be an outdoor reminder, Ms Dixon said.
Several awards were handed to long-serving community members, including Ms Dixon whose family has had 40 years of involvement with the centre.
Ray Johnstone was presented with an award for his outstanding cataloguing of the centre’s history and the Noble Park Callisthenics Club was presented with an award for its 50 years because it commenced when the centre first opened.
Former Springvale City mayor Bill Warner – who opened the centre in its current location in 1976 – gave a reflective speech, and new Greater Dandenong CEO John Bennie was spotted in the crowd.