Look what we’ve whipped up – Manly Seniors Centre gets a new kitchen

The smell of fresh scones is again wafting through Manly as volunteers and community groups move back into the Manly Seniors Centre on Pittwater Road after recent renovations to the much-loved building.

The busy centre fell silent during COVID-19 with our older residents staying home to keep safe and volunteering put on hold.

The building is used seven days a week by its 417 senior members for dancing, table tennis, art, singing, and everything in between. Council’s Meals On Wheels service is also based at this community centre.

We spoke to Manly Seniors Club Secretary Judy Rice and she couldn’t contain her excitement. 

“We all think the kitchen is amazing. All our birthdays have come at once! Everything is so clean and new. There are lots of cupboards now, lovely new benchtops, a new stove and fridge and also a new cupboard for the hot water system and chemicals. Everyone is so thrilled with it.”

While the building was temporarily closed due to the pandemic, Council used the time to fast track the works with renovations being complete in five weeks.

The full upgrade includes non-slip flooring, wall tiling, purpose-built joinery including benchtops, lockable drawers, and cupboards. There are also new white goods included a gas cooker, fridge/freezer, extract hood, and hot water system, and part of the original stainless steel benchtop was adapted to suit the new layout.

The main hall’s timber floor has been sanded and sealed and a new vinyl floor laid in the hallway. As part of Council’s ongoing commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, fifty new solar panels were also installed on the building’s roof. 

“Everyone from table tennis to dancing is happy with the floor as well - it’s fantastic. The renovations have made a great difference to the facility and it wouldn’t have been possible without Council. They were great keeping us in the loop all the way through and getting our input. We got everything we wanted, and it has been excellent. We were all looking forward to getting back into the Centre.”

And when asked how it will change how the group run things Judy said,

“It will make life a breeze. It makes running the centre so much smoother. We are thrilled.”  

Find out more about Manly Seniors Centre and the great activities that are held there.