End of Year Message from the Manager

We are coming to the end of another very challenging year. I hope that you and your family and friends have managed to say safe and healthy during the ups and downs of the year.

I am very happy to end the year with almost all activities restored to the Centre and I thank everyone in the community who supported the vaccination program which allowed important services like ours to re-open.

Since reopening we have enjoyed seeing you return to our Centre and reconnect with each other and participate in your regular activities. I am very hopeful this will continue next year. We also held our inaugural Ashburton-a-Fair, which we look forward to running quarterly next year.

I would like to thank all of our tutors and volunteer connect coordinators who, throughout the year, have provided classes and activities, under extremely challenging and changeable circumstances. I know that being involved – whether it has been online or in-Centre has played a very important role in keeping our spirits up during the year.

Our volunteer Digital Mentors deserve a huge expression of gratitude for providing a range of free tech services to our members and thus supporting connections to ACC activities as well as to family and friends. Our Digital Mentors  became even more important as they help many members download their digital certificates to their phones.

I would like to especially thank my office team, Jo, Jill and Natasha, who have done an incredible job keeping things running smoothly during the continual changes in our Centre’s operations throughout the year. They are supported by a team of office volunteers who make it possible for us to have the capacity to keep the Centre ticking along! Thanks to everyone behind the scenes.

Our Committee of Management have been constantly on hand supporting me and steering the Centre through the pandemic. Rhondda our president has always been available for the more challenging conversations and Terry, our treasurer, has ensured that our financial bottom line is sustainable.

Most of all, I thank you – the members of our Centre – for your patience, support and willingness to engage with new ways of connecting. I wish you all the best over the festive season and I look forward to welcoming you back in 2022.

Rachel Morley
Executive Officer