Dingley Village Neighbourhood Centre Inc. is a community initiated and structured organisation. It is an incorporated body and is autonomous in operation. The Centre is part of the Neighbourhood House / Community learning centre sector and manages programs that provide services to the residents of Dingley Village. These programs and services operate from both the centre and the Harold Box Hall, facilities the Board of Governance leases from the City of Kingston.
In the early 1970’s Dingley was fortunate enough to have a hard-working association, which conducted a survey into the needs of Dingley. The results showed that 66% of those surveyed favoured the building of an all-age centre and on March 13th 1975, a report went to local council. A small working party was formed and they spent time visiting other community facilities and meeting with the City of Springvale Engineer. The quote for building the Centre was $141, 039.00 and council approved the name Dingley Village Community Centre. A walkathon was held on December 11th 1976 to raise money for equipment and the building was officially opened on July 31st 1977 by the then Mayor of the City of Springvale Cr. Harold Box.
In 1978, the Dingley Village Craft Market commenced with 35 stalls as a means for participants from the centre to sell their crafts and for the Centre to raise funds. Sadly due to changes in spending and buying habits the craft market ceased operating in 2012, but in October 2017 we commenced a monthly Farmers' Market as a regular community event promoting local Victorian produce and healthy eating.
At our tenth birthday in July 1987, the noted growth over the 10 years was spectacular to us all. We manage both the centre and the Public Hall and over 500 people attend the centre each week. In 1988, we changed our name and became the Dingley Village Neighbourhood Centre. Since then we have grown in size with the help of Council, Holmesglen TAFE and the Department of Human Services. We have been able to build a registered 22 place occasional childcare centre.
in 2017 we celebrated 40 years of service and support to the community of Dingley Village. We now have in excess of 1200 people on average through the doors each week, very different from our humble beginnings.
The Centres’ uniqueness is that local residents who make up the Board of Governance have always managed it. The Board members have a commitment to supporting and serving their own community to its self-enhancement.
The Dingley Village Neighbourhood Centre receives funding from a variety of sources, fee for service from its programs and services, donations, City of Kingston, Department of Families, Fairness & Housing, Bendigo Bank Dingley Village and local service groups.