Benjamin Millar
When Kim Reilly took up an administrative role at the Louis Joel Arts & Community Centre soon after it opened, little did she know she was kicking off a 15-year stint at the centre.
After spending the last six years as manager of the popular Altona organisation, she is now handing over the reins to new manager Gina Kennedy as she heads into a busy retirement.
Ms Reilly said she is proud to have been part of a journey that has always had community at its heart.
“Prior to opening we were the Altona Hospital, so we already had our roots in the community from being a community-built hospital,” she said.
“Anyone who knows us has knows you can drop in for all sorts of things that connect you with the things that make life better for you – it could be art classes, sewing, art therapy, or cooking for men and a barbecue club for men.”
Ms Reilly said as a community centre, it has always responded to needs in the Altona community.
“So when you see a need for a social connection for men who may not have interest in other places, then you start that up,” she said.
“Any community centre is what the community needs at any point in time.”
With Melbourne only just emerging from another lengthy Covid-19 lockdown, Ms Reilly said it’s more important than ever for social connections to be rebuilt.
Not that the Louis Joel Arts & Community Centre has been resting on its laurels during the physical lockdown – the centre quickly pivoted to online offerings and other forms of connection.
“Over the last year and a half we really increased our online presence, we made phone calls to people to keep connected and we’ve had volunteers reach out to the men who normally take part in our programs,” she said.
Ms Reilly said she is proud to have been able to leave the organisation in good shape and the facilities “looking lovely” thanks to some recent upgrades.
“It was always done on a shoestring, but we’ve managed to keep it modern and to keep it aesthetically lovely,” she said.
As for her “retirement”, Ms Reilly expects to be busier than ever before.
“I have about six or seven community groups I belong to,” she said.
“My mission is always to make a difference.”
