SHOOTING hoops and kicking goals – it’s all part of a sporty initiative for youth at the Cornerstone Drop In Centre.
To complement its Saturday soccer team – a time-honoured fixture – the Dandenong centre has started a basketball game on Monday nights.
The Streetlighters Youth Ministry, under the direction of Pastor Tom Curry, has been running a drop-in program from 9am-1pm with a hot meal served about 11.45am every Friday and a youth ministry program from 6.30pm-11pm.
To learn more, call Tom Curry at the Clayton Church of Christ on 0414 893 852.
RSL’s new chief
Dandenong Returned and Services League has welcomed a retired school teacher as its new president.
John Wells, who joined the Dandenong RSL in 1998, has been the league secretary for five years.
The Vietnam War veteran, 66, received the Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to the ex-service personnel, education, and the City of Greater Dandenong.
His interests include freelance writing and historical research. He writes a column in the Gippsland Trader in Warragul.
Mr Wells was born at the Gurdies, South Gippsland, to John (Jack) Wells and Muriel Wells, a school teacher. His father was a farmer. His parents had nine sons, so he learned to be self-sufficient at an early age. He has three degrees: arts, administration and education.
Mr Wells and his wife Valerie have two children and two grandchildren. A busy and rewarding retirement? “Yes,” said John. “But I don’t get enough time to enjoy my favourite recreation – fishing in Western Port Bay. I have my own boat.”
Keeping the tradition
Since it opened its doors 18 years ago, Wellsprings for Women has run a series of innovative programs for newcomers to Australia and residents at risk of social isolation. Now it is introducing another interesting activity.
‘Creative connections through craft’ is aimed at new arrivals from Burma and Tibet. The classes are being planned for Wednesday afternoon and women from these communities will hone their skill in their traditional craft as well as western craft.
Centre co-ordinator Kaz Cochrane says the program will include excursions, art exhibitions of the newcomers’ work and a book featuring their journey. “We will also seek to employ longer-established women from their communities for language and child activity support,” she said.
Wellsprings has been fortunate to obtain a qualified art therapist, Holly Gordon, who has extensive experience in working with refugee women. Wellsprings for Women is at 79 Langhorne Street, Dandenong.
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