History
Jacaranda Community Centre was named and incorporated in 2000. The constitution was designed to ensure the organisation is owned by the local community. The Management Committee which oversaw and supported the setting up of Jacaranda is made up of clients, workers, Aboriginal community members and other welfare/community service workers and interested members of the public.
A constitution was written to reflect our objectives, and the lodgment process for incorporation and notification of the wider community began.
Many hours were spent hunting for premises, with our first thought that of using a house. However zoning regulations proved to be a stumbling block. We eventually found a lease at Unit 2, 132 Epsom Avenue, Belmont, through Skynet, at a reasonable rate, compared to leases in the area. Robert Fitzgerald, a founding member, agreed topay the lease and give us free access to the building.
In the meantime, Belmont Youth Services allowed us a room for a week until premises and furniture were finalised.
The new premises came with a phone system and office partitioning, which was of some help. A variety of second hand office furniture was donated and other goods such as pens and paper came from various community members, agencies, schools, members of Parliament, family, etc.
Jacaranda Community Centre (Inc.) was ready to open!
We opened our doors on 20th March 2000 and received incorporation in May 2000. We gained the Income Tax Exempt Certificate, Donation Gift Recipient Status, and Public Benevolent Status.
We started without any form of Government funding and since then we have struggled to maintain the operation of the agency and wages. We have always had considerable success at winning funding for small, one-off projects but have had, and continue to have, problems obtaining on going, core funding. Our first funding grant was for $5000 in 2000, for Emergency Relief, from the Commonwealth, of which $500 could be used for the administration of the agency. By 2005-2006 we were in receipt of $15,001 per annum for Emergency Relief distribution, and our administrative portion increased accordingly. We initially also obtained $1350 for Christmas assistance in 2000, from Lotterywest, which included 10% for administration. This increased in subsequent years to $13,500 per annum. We have survived mainly due to the administrative portions of these grants and for some time were very reliant on donations and free volunteer services by qualified workers, along with the assistance of welfare and social work students on practicums.
At first we used donated second hand and borrowed furniture and computers. Then Lotterywest funded Jacaranda in 2001 and 2003 for office equipment and furniture which made a huge difference to our service delivery.
After renting for 6 months, Robert and Lydnsey Fitzgerald bought the building privately and gave Jacaranda Community Centre a free lease until such time as funding became available to Jacaranda to pay the lease. However funding was never found for this purpose and for seven years the Fitzgeralds continued to allow Jacaranda to continue operating rent free.
Jacaranda has benefited greatly from the Fitzgerald family's spirit of giving. Their eldest daughter designed the logo and letterhead, their other daughter has helped with statistics, and their sons assist with computer and printing equipment and knowledge.
Jacaranda has won numerous community awards from the time of its inception to the current year:
- Community Services Industry Award winner, 2002 - Innovative Programs, Small Organisations - "Jacaranda Program"
- Nominee for the WA Citizen of the Year 2003 Golden Swan Award for a Voluntary Organisation
- Finalist for the Community Services Industry Awards 2003 - Developing Communities - "Communities we are One"
- Belmont City Council Community Service Award 2005
- Centennial Medal for Service to the Community - Lyndsey Fitzgerald
- Finalist in Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Awards for Consumer Advocacy, 2007