OUR BEGINNINGS:

     The Literacy Centre, like Hurley House, grew out of the need of a member of the congregation for a service which could cater for her child who had learning difficulties. The Centre was established in July 1992 and operates in the old Parsonage which was formerly used for The Cottage Centre. Local schools provided furniture and some reading materials.

WHAT WE DO:

    We provide a user-pays service which caters for students in Years 1 – 6 who are experiencing difficulties in the classroom. Each group contains a maximum of three students and is taught by a trained, experienced teacher who is able to devise a program to suit each individual student. All programs incorporate reading, spelling, comprehension and story writing. Reports are provided to parents twice a year. The Centre operates two afternoons per week. We currently have a staff of 5 and 20 students, which is down on previous years.

FACILITIES:

    Over time, donations and volunteer teaching have allowed us to upgrade the Centre and provide an extensive library of quality fiction and non-fiction texts for students to borrow each week. The building itself has been painted, re-carpeted, air-conditioned and had a new kitchen installed. New furniture has also made the Centre look more welcoming and professional.

WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED:

    Hundreds of students have passed through the Literacy Centre and we currently have a student whose mother attended the centre in its early days. We are proud to say that all these students have achieved successes, some small, others amazing. Parents report that they see changes, not only in their child’s literacy skills, but also in their general confidence and willingness to interact with others both at school and in the community.

    It is our hope that there will be people who are prepared to continue this service which has enhanced the lives of so many young people in our area.

Marion Bee was awarded OAM in 2014 for service to education, particularly through the promotion of literacy among children. She has led the Literacy centre for the last 24 years.