LAVERTON is no longer an overlooked suburb on the edge of Hobsons Bay, Anne Knight told a crowd gathered inside the suburb’s new $8.6 million community hub.
The Laverton Community Association chairwoman says the new building, on the corner of Donald and Crown streets, will strengthen community spirit.
Housing a medical centre, cafe, and employment and education agencies, the centre will be home to many local services and community groups.
“I’ve lived in Laverton since 1975 so, of course, I’ve seen many changes over that time,” Ms Knight said.
“One of the most dramatic has occurred on this site. In the early 1980s, a local Catholic nun — I think it was Sister Helen from St Martin de Porres in Laverton North — ran a childcare service in a Nissen hut that was on this site.
“As a single mum, I could leave my preschooler here for two to three hours at a time while I went off to appointments or shopping that I wanted to do on my own.
“I’m sure if Sister Helen could see this place today she’d be amazed and delighted to see what that Nissen hut has morphed into.”
Ms Knight said the one-stop-shop would address people’s needs, “whether they be welfare, education, medical, recreational or purely social”.
Former Labor minister and Altona MP Lynne Kosky, who helped secure $1 million towards the project while in government, said Laverton had previously been ignored. “Laverton deserves that amount of money, focus and attention; it’s a growing area.”
