NEW partnerships in community connection and engagement were celebrated in Bridgewater on Thursday.
Spotzrulz opened its Loddon Inclusive Precinct that will operate across three locations in the shire and the town’s community garden was unveiled after months of working bees by volunteers.
The inclusion program will operate from the old railway station and Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Bridgewater with activities starting in Tarnagulla in coming weeks.
Sportzrulz’s Pam Dawkins said: “Our aim here is to have spaces for like-minded people, to create spaces for the community and help the community. It’s about bringing people together.”
She said connectivity would allow activity participants to engage in sessions held simultaneously in Bridgewater and Tarnagulla.
“We see ourselves being here for a long time with local staff,” she said.
Loddon Mayor Dan Straub officially cut the ribbon at the ceremony attended by residents and students from Bridgewater Primary School.
“Community will be the biggest aspect of a precinct like this,” he said.
Cr Straub praised the collaboration between old railway station operators Kooyoora Women’s Network, Sportzrulz, the school and Loddon Plains Landcare Network.
KWN president Colleen Condliffe said the community garden would increase activity around the precinct.
“We have had amazing volunteers, a few setbacks when sleepers were stolen, to bring the project to this point,” she said.
“The involvement of the school is important as is the partnership with Loddon Plains Landcare Network and the community.”