Community Engagement
We proudly support and facilitate a number of community based programs and projects.
Community Programs
Coonara Community House offers a range of activities for the community ranging from social groups to volunteer opportunities.
COONARA BEE CLUB
$45 for single
$65 for family
Membership is subject to vacancies. Contact Coonara for more information.
COONARA HALLOWEEN
Every year Coonara hosts Halloween celebrations. Come dressed up in a costume and walk the scary walk past Coonara Community House if you dare!
COONARA VOLUNTEER TRAINING PROGRAM
We have a wonderful volunteer team at Coonara that play a crucial role in our operation. We have various volunteer roles in:
- reception
- gardening
- grounds keeping/maintenance,
- housekeeping
- community kitchen
If you are interested in joining our team of volunteers, please contact us for more information.
KNOX COMMUNITY CHESS ENTHUSIASTS
SINGULARITY CHOIR
Singularity is a SATB Choir of around 30 singers of all ages. The choir is equally at home with unaccompanied music or accompanied by instruments. They have enjoyed performances with the Melbourne Opera Orchestra, the Maroondah Symphony Orchestra, Casey Philharmonic and more. They also frequently perform for charity and support raising funds for different causes.
Rehearsals: Mondays at 7.30pm – 9.30pm
Location: Upwey
For more information, head to their website: www.singularitychoir.org.au
Follow them on Facebook:
VOLUNTEER FOR KNOX
Volunteer for Knox refers passionate and willing volunteers to not-for-profit organisations in the City of Knox. They build relationships, strengthen wellbeing and connect people with a sense of belonging to their community through volunteering opportunities in Knox.
If you are keen to volunteer or are seeking volunteers for your not-for-profit organisation, head to their website for more information: www.volunteerforknox.com.au
Follow them on Facebook:
Community Projects
Coonara Community House proudly undertakes community based projects on a regular basis. We have initiated and delivered programs that have included children’s education, supporting those in need, building community spaces to events that bring people together. By running these community based projects, we instigate positive change and development, solve problems, strengthen social ties, promote inclusivity and foster a real sense of community with those around us.
Watch our project celebration video here.
FERNTREE GULLY VILLAGE MARKET
The Ferntree Gully Village Market project was an initiative of Coonara Community House that aimed to increase activation in Ferntree Gully Village to improve perceptions of safety.
Through the delivery of a series of weekend markets that operated between May and October, the project worked to promote the precinct to residents and visitors as a vibrant and attractive destination. The markets also provided village traders and community organisations opportunities to engage with locals and promote their businesses and clubs.
The market successfully brought over 6000 people into the village, engaged members of the community through interactive activities and built relationships with local businesses and community groups.
2024
IMPACT:
MULTICULTURAL SENIORS
Coonara’s diverse and multicultural “Tight Knit Connections” Seniors group gathers each Wednesday t knit for those in need. Working in partnership with The Basin Salvation Army, our group takes pride in knitting blankets, beanies and scarves for the less fortunate. As an inclusive group, they celebrate each others cultures with a shared meal and conversations from their homeland, creating a sense of belonging to our community.
This project is ongoing until 2025.
If you are interested in participating in this group, please contact us. Knitters with experience are always welcome.
2023
IMPACT:
COONARA YARNING CIRCLE
Coonara Community House partnered with Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place to deliver a safe and inclusive space for our local community and to continue reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The project included the development of a mural, yarning circle, cultural kitchen, Indigenous gardens and art and cultural awareness training.
This project supported the creation of a space for all to visit, feel, engage and bring the community together as one.
2023
IMPACT:
Children's Week Event
Coonara hosted an interactive worm farm education session to promote ‘hands-on’ sustainable play based experiences for preschool and early primary aged children.
Children investigated the environmental benefits of feeding soil life within our gardens and discovered the role each household and place of learning can play in supporting biodiversity through worm farming.