By Paul Pickering
YOUTH Affairs Minister James Merlino was delighted to receive a last-minute call-up to open Anglicare Victoria’s newly redeveloped Yarra Ranges Family Services Centre in Lilydale last Wednesday.
Mr Merlino was the 11th-hour replacement for Health Minister Bronwyn Pike, who was unable to attend for personal reasons.
Anglicare Victoria CEO Dr Ray Cleary announced: “This fantastic facility will link together services like foster care with programs such as parent education, financial counselling, drug and alcohol counselling and emergency aid to relieve immediate distress while also addressing the underlying causes of hardship.”
The $2.5 million redevelopment was funded by Anglicare in combination with grants from the Victorian Community Support Fund and the philanthropic Helen Macpherson Smith Fund.
Mr Merlino noted the importance of such facilities in reassuring families that they are not alone in their varied struggles.
“We know from experience that the earlier we can engage these families, the better the results for the families and the community as a whole,” he said.
The facility was formally blessed by the Archbishop of Melbourne The Right Reverend Dr Philip Freier, while performances from the Anglicare Victoria Community Choir complemented the celebratory atmosphere of the event.
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