By CASEY NEILL
CENTRELINK in Springvale has played an important role in many migrant journeys.
City of Greater Dandenong mayor Sean O’Reilly on Wednesday 26 August launched a marker recognising this contribution, part of The Enterprise Trail.
It evolved from the Spirit of Enterprise Project, which began with a small group in 2008 recording the Enterprise Migrant Hostel’s history.
The Enterprise Trail starts at the Tribute Garden at the old Enterprise site, now Lexington Gardens Retirement Village.
Centrelink is second on the trail. The Springvale social security office worked closely with community organisations to make sure people had good access to their entitlements.
Cr O’Reilly said the trail would help visitors to Springvale understand where the community has come from.
“Recording the history of this project shows that a positive pro-active response to change can be ground-breaking,” he said.
There’ll also be markers at Springvale Rise Primary School, where the Multicultural Teacher’s Aide program started; the Community Health Centre, Springvale Community Aid and Advice Bureau (SCAAB); Springvale Neighbourhood House, which was built to provide a space for cultural groups to meet; and Springvale Road Shopping Centre, which has always reflected the ever-changing population.
The final one will be at the redeveloped Springvale civic precinct on Springvale Road.
Cr O’Reilly said a group would walk the trail from start to finish once the final marker was in place.
He said the event would “celebrate the success which comes from welcoming newcomers, supporting cultural difference, finding different ways to deliver services, all of which have led to the wonderful harmonious community in which we live”.
