THE Bowraville Pioneer Community Centre is in danger of not being able to form a Management Committee for 2023, with dwindling numbers putting the valued community space at risk.

The Community Centre was donated to the Nambucca Shire in 1975.

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A community committee managed the Centre for the Shire until 2009 when Council decided to sell the building.

A community association, The Bowraville Community Development Association Inc. was formed to hold the title of the building for the community.

When Council found it was illegal to sell a public property, they passed it into the hands of the Association.

Now, the community manages the building by managing the Association.

Nambucca Valley councillor and Bowraville resident Susan Jenvey said the opportunities for the community space were immense.

“A community led approach to building our local Bowraville economy is an incredibly vibrant concept to contemplate,” said Ms Jenvey.

“The Bowraville community has this amazing asset.

“A main street building with Wi-Fi that could be but isn’t used enough.

“The Bowraville Community Centre could be the most amazing incubator, micro business workspace that builds community wealth, values, and skills,” said Ms Jenvey.

“It needs people with fresh ideas and shared values to come together to keep this asset in community hands.”

The AGM for the Bowraville Community Development Association was scheduled for October 10 but has been postponed to Wednesday, 30 November to give the Management Committee time to run a membership Drive through November.

The plan is to lower the membership fee to $5 per year.

A survey will also be circulated to the community where you can have a say on what you think is important.

There will also be a public meeting, held at the Community Centre during the week prior to the AGM for residents to share ideas around maintaining this asset for future community uses.

The building has been renovated from the foundations to the roof, with funds on hand to finish the renovations of the building’s facade.

The building houses Aunt Emily’s Craft Group’s sales room, as well as a large space that can accommodate all sorts of classes, the monthly community market, parties and exhibitions.

There are rooms of various sizes which can be used by community groups as well as private enterprises.

The few members volunteering on the Management Committee are confident the community won’t let this community asset go for lack of a Management Committee.

In the past the building has given birth to The Bowraville Play Group, Aunt Emily’s Craft Group, community radio, Radio Nambucca Inc, Bowra Country Markets and Nambucca Valley Conservation Association.

The space was once home to music nights which were broadcast live to air, and countless art and or craft exhibitions.

In the late 1970s it also managed a Community Development Employment Project.

Early Committee members who have now passed include Alan Usher, Erin Kelsey, Marion Collins and Ellen Motley.

Current Committee members are asking the community to buy in to the Centre’s potential.

“Why not come and add a modern update to this community space – a hot desk, a podcast studio, a table of goods, an unusual service, or remove barriers to isolation and build wellbeing with communities of interest?

“The sky is the limit – it just asks you to participate.

“The reward is linking arms and giving hope to potential.”