Freemasons save the day for Berkeley Vale centre

One fateful Monday morning, a Board member opening up the Berkeley Vale Neighbourhood Centre noticed pools of water in the hallway, and there was even more water on the storeroom floor.

One of four freezers owned by the centre, in which food for the needy is kept, had disastrously thrown in the towel.

Fortuitously, the following day, there was a Tuesday breakfast planned for the children at the school opposite the centre – they had a great breakfast that day.

The breakfast is one of the activities undertaken by the Berkeley Vale Neighbourhood Centre each week, except during school holidays.

Freemasons on the Central Coast (FotCC) who had previously helped the centre, stepped up again to supply a new freezer.

They also donated a water pump to assist with the watering of the community garden at Berkeley Vale.

FotCC was invited to the centre for morning tea and a tour of the centre on August 13 when directors Leigh Pollard, Chris Matthews and Graeme Ingall were officially thanked for the FotCC support.

Berkeley Vale Neighbourhood Centre was specifically designed to be community friendly and provides many useful services to the local areas of Fountaindale, Chittaway Point, Berkeley Vale and Glenning Valley.

These services include: the Bilby Toy Library where member parents and guardian can borrow up to four toys; a community garden run by volunteers at Berkeley Vale; activity groups including a playgroup for children up to five years old, a first-time mother’s group, fun classes using gym equipment and vocational care for school children during holidays; community information and referrals to services for those who request assistance; a walking group for adults; a library; clothing for both children and adults, for a small donation; and provision of food and hampers.

A FotCC spokesperson said the Berkeley Vale Neighbourhood Centre did an amazing amount of work to help serve the community and FotCC was always thrilled to be able in any way it could.