Although our AGM and Open Day were held back in March, the enthusiasm from the day is still carrying us forward.
The annual reports highlighted what has been a very positive year for the Association. Hall hire continues to grow following the recent renovations, The Chronicle sponsorship remains fully subscribed with a waiting list, and our community events and workshops continue to bring people together. Landcare has also gone from strength to strength, with our new "guardianship" approach helping volunteers build a stronger connection with individual reserves.
Financially, the Association is now in a much stronger position. A Lake Macquarie City Council (LMCC) rate rebate, printing sponsorship from First National Toronto and increasing hall hire have all helped place the CPPA on a solid footing for the future.
More importantly, this gives us confidence to keep investing in projects that strengthen our community and care for our local environment.
Something happening every day
One message came through loud and clear during our Open Day conversations, people want to know what's happening at Progress Hall.
Since March, the Hall has become busier than ever. There is now something happening almost every day of the week, making the Hall a welcoming place for learning, creativity, movement and connection.
Current regular activities include:
- Life Drawing – Mondays, 10.00 am
- Healing Moves Yoga & Therapy – Mondays and Thursdays, 5.15 pm, Saturdays, 9.00 am
- A Soulful Way Sound Bath – Tuesdays, 6.30 pm
- U3a Wine Appreciation - Tuesday 11:30am-1pm
- U3A Fibre & Textiles - Wednesday 9:30am-12pm
- Knocking Boots Dance Classes – Thursdays, 6.00 pm
- Pilates – Fridays, 7.45 am
Whether you're looking to improve your fitness, meet new people or simply try something different, there's likely to be an activity for you.
Visit our online calendar for the latest activities and events:
coalpointprogress.blogspot.com/p/calendar.html
Meet your Committee
We're delighted to have a full committee bringing together experience in community governance, accounting, environmental education, communications and project management.Our committee members are:
- Suzanne Pritchard - President/Secretary
- Pamela Sharp - Vice President
- Nico Marcar - Treasurer
- Cath Fairs - Hall Bookings
- Ros Cornish - Landcare coordinator
- Nicole Haigh - Newsletter distribution
- Helen English
- Selma Barry
- Denise Rickman
- Kathy Gall
While we each bring different skills and experiences, we all share the same goal, protecting our natural environment, strengthening community connections and ensuring Progress Hall continues to thrive for future generations.
As always, none of this would be possible without our volunteers, Landcare crew, newsletter deliverers, hall users and supporters. Thank you for everything you do.
If you're not already a member, we'd love you to join us. Membership is one of the simplest ways to support the Association and the ongoing care of our community-owned hall and local bushland.
Membership forms are available from the noticeboard outside Progress Hall or online
Looking Ahead
Making Progress Hall accessible for everyoneOne of the strongest messages from our Open Day was that our community wants Progress Hall to be welcoming and accessible to everyone.
Improving access has been discussed for many years, and we recognise that both parking and accessibility remain challenges. Rather than looking for a quick fix, the Committee is developing a long-term plan that will allow us to seek grant funding and stage improvements over time.
An Inclusive Access Working Group has now been established to develop a practical roadmap for the future.
If you have experience in accessibility, planning, engineering, grant writing or simply have ideas you'd like to share, we'd love to hear from you. Community knowledge will be essential in shaping a solution that works for everyone.
This is an investment in the future of Progress Hall and in making sure every member of our community can enjoy everything it has to offer.
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