PACC to connect residents, community groups

Published on 25 May 2021

Cobden Rotary will host a putting competition to raise awareness for the town’s mini golf course at this weekend’s Participate and Connect Community (PACC) Expo in Camperdown.

Members of the public are welcome to come on down to the Theatre Royal to try their hand at a number of interactive exhibits, try something new and meet with a range of community groups looking for new members.

Gary Kimber, Vice-President of Cobden Rotary, was hoping to raise the profile of one of the groups passion projects – it’s mini golf course.

“We are just hoping to remind people of the mini golf and the great facilities we have to hire in Cobden,” Mr Kimber said.

“The park has been mostly closed during COVID but is open now by appointment for parties.

“Kids love it… they just run! It’s fenced off and you can have the mini golf course to yourself, it’s a great facility and we want people to use it and have fun.”

Deputy Mayor Jo Beard will open the PACC Conference & Expo which will be held on 29 and 30 May.

“The idea for the conference and expo came about after Council recovery team called more than 300 community groups to see how they were faring during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Cr Beard said.

“There were two mass call-outs between September 2020 and February this year to check in, get feedback and ask, ‘Is there anything we can do to help you?’.”

“The most pressing concerns for a majority of groups were disengagement, dwindling membership numbers and a desire to welcome back familiar and fresh faces.

Based on that feedback, PACC was designed as a meeting point for community groups to come together and learn from each other.

“The expo will give people a taste of some of the community and recreational pursuits in their town so they can find a volunteering opportunity or a hobby that suits them that they might not have even known existed.

“They will have an opportunity to speak with people face-to-face about how they can get involved.

“It’s all about strengthening connections, friendships and a sense of belonging after the social isolation in 2020.”

The free PACC Expo will begin at 9 am Sunday 30 May, at the Theatre Royal in Camperdown. It will start with a free Pilates class at 9 am with Rachael Moloney. Other features of the event will be: