Busy bees add splash of colour to centre

HOT weather and sore arms were not going to stop the crew from Bunnings and The Youthie from smiling on Friday when the teams came together to paint the new Raymond Terrace drop-in centre building.

The working bee came after months of uncertainty about the future of the centre earlier this year.

Organisers had to look for a new home after The Youthie’s site on King Street, in the old Masonic building, was purchased by a private owner with plans to convert all of the building into a family home.

Things started to look up in August this year when Port Stephens Council and the Neighbourhood Centre started negotiations for the service to move into a new site – the old Raymond Terrace Guide Hall in Kangaroo Street.

Negotiations are now complete and thanks to the skills of the team at Bunnings the interior and exterior are now looking bright and colourful with a new coat of paint.

The Neighbourhood Centre’s co-ordinator Colleen Whittle said the group approached Bunnings at Taylor’s Beach to see if they could help out in any way.

Soon enough Port Stephens’ manager Shaun Stevenson, with the help of Dulux, had not only supplied paint but also had a troop of volunteers from the Port Stephens and Maitland stores teed up to help.

“We try to help out with community events where we can,” he said.

But the hard work is not over yet with Matt Breen, from The Youthie, saying another working bee would be held on Thursday, November 14, with the aim of gardening.

Those willing to lend a hand can contact the Neighbourhood Centre on 4987 1331 for more information.