50 years of community support
The Portarlington Ladies Auxiliary is celebrating a remarkable milestone – 50 years of unwavering community service and fundraising support for Bellarine Community Health (BCH).
The story started on April 29, 1974, when a public meeting was held in Portarlington to establish a community health centre. The following year the Ladies Auxiliary was formed with a clear purpose to support the community through raising funds for the health centre. By the end of 1978, the purpose-built health centre was officially opened in Fenwick Street.
Over five decades, the auxiliary has raised funds for essential equipment and furniture and contributed significantly to building funds for the Fenwick Street facility and its various redevelopments.
“I love it, it’s part of me,” says Aline Dunn, who has been a member of the auxiliary for 35 years, initially starting as a volunteer helping to establish a palliative care service.
“I’ve volunteered here since I moved to Portarlington. The community looked after me when I needed help when I first moved here, and I’ve given it back to the community. The health centre was always the community – if you needed help you came to the health centre.”
The Ladies’ Auxiliary has done most of its fundraising through their wonderful ‘Op Shop’ which was first established in the rotunda in Portarlington. After many years the ‘Op Shop’ was forced to move. It ran from cramped quarters in a tin shed and even a shipping container in the car park of the Fenwick Street site while the health centre underwent renovations. Now the ‘Op Shop’ is housed in a large new space at the BCH Portarlington site with bathroom and kitchen facilities as well as storage and a change room.
The 50th anniversary celebration recognises not only the auxiliary’s fundraising achievements but also their broader community impact, supporting vulnerable community members while ensuring essential health services remain accessible and well-equipped.
Past and present members of the Auxiliary along with BCH staff and other invited guests recently celebrated the milestone with an afternoon tea and display of memorabilia at the BCH Portarlington site.
“It was a wonderful opportunity to catch up and chat about the history of the Auxiliary and thank the ladies for all their incredible support over the years,” said BCH CEO Kathy Russell.
“They’ve been there since the land was secured through sheer determination and community grit and the first spade of soil was turned to establish the centre,” she said. “Other local auxiliaries have come and gone, but Portarlington has stood the test of time… a testament to the strength of this community and the women who lead it.”
As we celebrate this 50-year milestone, we also reflect on the changing face of volunteerism and fundraising. In a time when many auxiliaries have faded, the Portarlington Ladies Auxiliary continues to thrive, not just because of its history, but because of its heart. Their enduring commitment, adaptability, and community spirit remind us that with the right purpose and people, even the most challenging times can be met with strength. Here’s to the next 50 years of service, generosity, and impact.