Pre-kindy coordinator Jenny Tough with Joseph Pile (3).
Camera IconPre-kindy coordinator Jenny Tough with Joseph Pile (3). Credit: Supplied/Martin Kennealey d468723

Neighbourhood House Week celebrated throughout Hillarys

Tyler BrownJoondalup Times

BELONGING was the central theme for Neighbourhood House Week celebrations in Hillarys earlier this month.

Whitford Family Centre spent the week exploring different cultures through dress, cooking and art and craft activities.

Centre co-ordinator Carolyn Halleen said it was a good learning opportunity for the children aged two to four and it complemented the not-for-profit community centre’s integration program.

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“We focussed on belonging in a centre and a community,” she said.

Activities included painting lanterns, gluing outfits to cut out people and making fried rice.

“The kids loved it,” Ms Halleen said.

“We didn’t know how they’d go with the fried rice; we made a vegetarian batch and one with meat to cater for everyone and they were all asking for more.

“The chopsticks were a challenge but they all really enjoyed it.”

Children were also encouraged to dress up and bring in something from a different culture to share for news time.

Marangaroo Family Centre also took part with a morning tea for about 60 families as well as child health nurses from the Child and Adolescent Health Service, local co-ordinators from the Disability Services Commission and representatives from Autism West and Darch Neighbourhood Watch.

Centre manager Helen Cocks said it was great to have the chance to socialise and network “which is important in these times where quite often it’s just a passing ‘hello’ as people enter and leave the centre”.

Neighbourhood House Week ran nationally from May 1-7 to celebrate the role of neighbourhood centres in the community.

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