New ministry centre after long journey
A journey started more than four years ago is expected to end before Christmas when building of the new St John’s Opportunity Shop and Ministry Centre at Neerim South is completed.
As well as much more space and a better working environment for the many Opportunity Shop volunteers the new premises next to the current church in Main Road, Neerim South, will also have a ministry/community room for use by the church and other organisations.
There have been plenty of road bumps along the journey.
And with the parish having to negotiate a larger loan to complete the building donations are being sought and can be made at the Neerim district community Bendigo bank to the Neerim South Co-operating Church Building Account BSB 633 000, account number 147 295 901.
Plans are in hand for an opening celebration and blessing of the building by Bishop Kay Goldsworthy on December 10.
The decision to build new premises was made in 2013.
The opp shop has had several homes over the years; a back room at the church, a tumbled down half-house and the former Neerim South pharmacy premises.
Funding has included $175,000 allocated by the Uniting Church from the sale of the old Methodist Church site and money held in trust by the Anglican diocese from the sale of its old Neerim church.
A loan negotiated from the Anglican diocese to meet the balance proved not enough to cover cost blow-outs resulting from an unforeseen dispute with a builder and further funding came from the O’Hara Trust established 30 years earlier.
Building came to a halt in late 2014 and a resolution not reached until last year.
Further delays resulted from the building company entering receivership.
The site has been a hive of building activity over the past couple of months after construction re-commenced.
The completed premises also will be able to cater for youth and children’s work, family fun activities, a community meals ministry, crafts, bible studies and coffee mornings as well as being available for meetings of other local community groups.