Blessing and Opening of the St Joseph's Community Centre on, Sunday, 17^th August 2008

Address by the Parish Priest

It is my task simply to say a thousand "Thank-yous"!

What you see today began as a search for a way to provide accessible toilet facilities for the Church! The Finance Committee set up a Site Committee to look at the whole needs of the Parish. This eventually focused on the obvious need for toilets but also the limitations of the old Presbytery which had served as a Parish Centre for many years.

After over a year of investigation by the Site Committee we looked at what kind of building could provide for our needs and the needs of the Parish into the future. Trevor Smith gave us a concept for us to work on. That concept remained the inspiration for the project throughout. It went through many versions. Our dream had to be cut in half to suit our budget. I wish to thank all the members of that Site Committee for demonstrating how much this Parish means to them and all of us. Their names and the names of other individuals and businesses are listed on the back of your leaflet.

What we now have has been a splendid achievement by the Parish and Community of Nambour. It has been from the beginning to end a community project. The parishioners have got behind it and made it possible financially by way of very generous donations and loans. This $151,000 was a marvellous vote of confidence and provided a great incentive for us to keep going. This enabled us to limit our borrowing from the ADF to $300000 which they were only too willing to provide. Being a community project meant that there have been many differences of opinion, some disagreements, but these, too, have contributed to the outcome. Overall there was a positive effort to achieve our goal. Thank you to you all.

Our thanks to our local Councillors of the former Maroochy Shire, Joe Natoli, Paul Tatton, and Tony Northey. Along with member for Nicklin, Peter Wellington, they helped us navigate the shoals of planning requirements.

I would like to acknowledge some key people who have stayed with the project. First of all, Adrian and Steve our builders have shown that a builders skills are not only with hammer and nails to make a building but also the relationship skills in enabling all the various trades and suppliers to work together. We had got used to their presence around the place for those six months. Thank you.

Many individuals and businesses have supported us. Major sponsors were Whelan Electrical, Kevin and Wanda Whelan, Melco Hardware, Elenel Projects, John Hill & Associates, Cordwells Concrete, Nascam as well as Tim and Sally Ryan. As was Michael Baker who installed the data and communication system. A gold medal for perseverance should go to Brian Schick who did the drawings, again and again and again.

I need to mention particularly also Ruth and Tom Sinnott the result of whose generous gift to the parish can be seen in the landscaping and gardens around both Parish and School buildings an ongoing project. It has been a labour of love by them. I want to express my sincere appreciation for what they have done. Where would we be without Dad and Dave? That is, Vince Dennehy and Terry McCorley, who are always ready to pitch in and do the bits and pieces around the place. They have been ably helped by Ross our groundsman who is a jack of all trades.

It would have all been a very confusing and messy undertaking without the gifts of our Parish Staff Judith, Michael, Wendy and Darlene who are always there for us. Judith really carried the project close to her heart for the last few years. Most parishioners would not realise how much of an enormous debt of gratitude we owe to Judith for her unselfish and generous commitment to the Parish. Often at great cost to herself personally. She has a keen pastoral sense that sees beyond any immediate needs of a project towards the good of the whole Body of Christ that I have rarely seen. I say that without qualification. On this project she has shown an ability to communicate with so many suppliers and agencies and deal with many stressful situations. It was she who insisted that we put up a building that is worthy of your generosity and not take cheap shortcuts. Thank you Judith. Michael, our book keeper, has kept us on target with our budget for the project. He, too, is exceptionally generous with his time and ability to do that. We could not have done it without him. Wendy is always there to help and her husband Michael is here today as official photographer. Thank you.

Thanks to St Joseph's School Community who resurfaced the entire site. While it was not part of this project it has certainly enhanced the surroundings. Welcome to our new Principal Margaret Pont and Deputy Bob McGhee. Thank you to the Year 7 students who have lent a hand on occasion gardening with Ruth.

Lastly, I wish to thank Tim Ryan our project manager. Tim has cracked the whip on everyone, including me, to get things done. Many on the Sunshine Coast will know of Tim's generous community spirit. He has given and enormous amount of time, effort and resources to the project. He has spearheaded the project and has met weekly with us throughout the course of the building keeping us focused and documenting all the decisions we have made and working with Michael on the budget. Thank you Tim. Please accept this small gift as a token of our appreciation.

There is an honour roll for you to see on the leaflet of these and other local people and businesses. I want them to know how much we have valued that support and to say thank you to them on behalf of the Parish. Please support these businesses in return for their generosity.

Finally, thanks to Bishop Finnegan for accepting our invitation to bless and open this Community Centre.

Fr Graham

(The Bishop and Fr Gatehouse then unveiled the plaque)