Community Impact GroupsPeople and Purpose
Our Purpose
Our Vision
A Connected, Inclusive and Caring Community.
Our Mission
ACH works to enrich the lives of community members by facilitating community spirit, fostering inclusiveness and positive connections and promoting lifelong learning for the communities of Anglesea, Aireys Inlet and Surrounds.
Governance
ACH is governed by a volunteer committee of management. If you are interested in nominating to joing the committee please get in touch or fill out a nomination form.
Community Initiatives supported by the Anglesea Community House
The Resale Shed
Successfully diverting re-useable materials from landfill.
News Angle
Your quarterly publication from the Anglesea Community House.
Anglesea Twilight Farmers Market
Providing growers and producers an avenue for the community to access local produce.
Anglesea and Aireys Inlet Foodlink
Providing emergency food relief for Anglesea and Aireys Inlet residents.
Anglesea Green Hub
Anglesea Community House’s Green Hub provides a drop off point in your local community for households items that can be recycled. Volunteers help us save waste from landfill by dropping off your recyclables at central points in Geelong.
Our Beginnings
The ACH building is a house that was donated to the Barrabool Shire by the Tasmanian Government for emergency housing following the Ash Wednesday fires of 1983.
It became home to a local person for five years after her house was burnt out in the fires. In 1989 Council made the house available for use as a Community House.
It was seen as the perfect fit because the house was originally donated to benefit people in crisis and would continue to serve the wider community.
Community use and interest prompted the Shire to allocate $20,000 towards additional construction works to modify the structure to meet community needs. Without the volunteer labour and other input, the Community House would not have been able to grow to what it is today, offering childcare, rooms for use by community groups, space for exercise classes and so many other activities.
More than a physical space, the ACH continues to work to respond to community needs and initiatives.
ACH has celebrated more than 30 years of working with community and we continue to work, even beyond the physical space of the house, to support people to participate in the community.
Committee Member Sandra has broad-based experience in the early childhood sector with 35 years working in various positions in community-based childcare services and organisations and in local and state governments. Sandra has been involved in a number of community organisations, including as a member of community-based management committees and involvement in the YMCA, both as committee member and employee. Sandra brings valuable experience in developing and implementing policies and procedures, risk management plans and training and business plans. Treasurer - B Bus, CPA (retired) Since moving to Fairhaven in 2013, Keith has been involved with Anglesea Art House, Fairhaven Surf Club, Surfcoast Anglesea Probus, Anglesea Men's Shed and is a member of the Surfcoast Shire Advisory Committee on Positive Ageing. Keith worked in the oil industry for 25 years both in Australia and overseas. He then moved to lead the Dymocks organisation in Sydney for four years followed by five years as CEO of Retravision Australia. Keith has a range of skills and experience built across a commercial and not-for-profit background. In 2007, Keith became COO with Starlight Children's Foundation before returning to Melbourne as CEO Big Brothers Big Sisters. Keith also served for 11 years on the Board of Autism Spectrum Australia (ASPECT). Keith is a Life Member of ASPECT. Committee Member To come... Prior to volunteering with the Anglesea Community House, Annette was a primary school teacher for over 30 years, work she found challenging, but mostly rewarding, working with staff and parents to assist children to reach their potential. Annette is a hands-on person and she is involved with many other organisations and community groups in Anglesea. Vice President Michael brings a diverse skill set to the ACH Committee of Management. 30 years as a senior medical scientist providing the matching for organ transplantation, six years as an on call hospital chaplain with the Austin Hospital and most recently as full-time pastor of the Anglesea Baptist Church. As a scientist, Michael brings strong analytical skills, leadership capacity, and innovation, as he has served on numerous international committees and published over fifty refereed publications. Michael holds a B.Sc (Hons) in Applied Biological Sciences, a PhD and a Master of Theological Studies and, as an adjunct lecturer, taught postgraduate immunology and now teaches undergraduate theology. Michael is an ordained minister of religion with the Baptist Union of Victoria. President Beth is a community advocate with extensive experience in community capacity building and good governance processes. Beth’s passion for making a difference in community is demonstrated in three key areas: neighbourhood houses, local government and emergency management services, particularly CFA. Beth’s focus is on making a systemic difference rather than ad-hoc situational changes. She looks to change and develop systems and processes that support good governance and support community resilience. Beth’s community and governance leadership is demonstrated in three decades as a practitioner in the neighbourhood house sector at the local, regional, state and national levels; 11 years as local government councillor including four terms as Mayor of Surf Coast Shire and three terms as President of the Victorian Local Governance Association. Beth has also previously served as Vice President and Treasurer with the ACH Committee of Management. Beth has been awarded the Centenary medal and OAM for her contribution to local government and community. Committee Member Info to come.... Committee Member Info to come....Read more +
Sandra Mitchell
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Keith Perkin
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Rachael Marano
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Michael Varney
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Beth Davidson OAM
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Lina Libroaperto
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Deb Elliot
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Room Leader Early Childcare Education Bec joined ACH Childcare in 2018. She is actually a chocolatier by trade, but her passion for the creative arts and the opportunity to share this as an early childhood educator has bought her to work as a Childcare Assistant at ACH. In 2022 Bec has taken on the role of Room Leader. Operations Coordinator With a Bachelor in Social Work, Julie has many years of experience in working with communities. Julie joined ACH in 2019, is excited to work with ACH, has lived in Anglesea for nearly 15 years and has been heavily involved in many community groups. Community Engagement Coordinator With a BA in International Studies and a Masters in Education, Marcelle has worked in Community Development for over 20 years, both locally with people from a refugee background, and in Latin America with indigenous Maya women and families as Director of a Fair Trade Social Enterprise. Children Services Casual Michelle joined us in 2021 as the Children Services Team Leader. She has worked at Anglesea Community House since 2018 as a casual worker. Prior to that she taught music and movement at the Torquay and Anglesea community Houses. This is where her passion for early childhood education began. Michelle completed her diploma in Early Child Education and Care in 2016. In 2022 Michelle stepped down as Team Leader but continue to support our service through her work as a casual staff member. Michelle lives on a farm in Paraparap with her family and her many adopted animals’ pigs, alpacas, sheep, chickens, ducks, sheep and many others. Michelle loves sharing the bounty of her large kitchen garden with staff and families, we all enjoy Michelles amazing plums, cherry tomatoes and the delicious preserves she whips up in her spare time!
Bec Scoullar
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Julie Martin
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Marcelle Renkin
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Michelle Drury
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2019-2020 Annual Report
Read more about the achievements of ACH over the past year.
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Creating inclusive, connected and caring communities.
ACH is committed to enriching the lives of community members by fostering inclusiveness, promoting postitive connections and supporting community intiatives.