November 21, 2013
South Burnett CTC members gathered at the South Burnett Enterprise Centre on Wednesday night for the not-for-profit group’s annual general meeting and to reflect on a tough year for the association.
CTC operates employment services, youth and community services, foster and residential care services, disability services, children’s services and community housing services throughout the South Burnett and extending into Gympie.
“Last year saw the sad demise of our diversionary services in Murgon and Cherbourg, and some job losses,” CEO Nina Temperton said.
These services were closed as a result of government funding cuts.
She said CTC had also had “efficiency dividends” imposed upon it by government which meant cuts of 10 per cent in some areas.
There was also uncertainty over the proposed “recommissioning” of youth services.
“We are at the whim of all sorts of circumstances,” she said.
“Our surplus has dropped by something like 90-95 per cent compared with the previous year, but that’s okay. We’re stable, we are sound and we are fortunate we are in the black.”
Mrs Temperton said many other agencies in the sector were not so fortunate, and some had even been forced to close their doors.
She thanked the CTC Board for their unstinting support and encouragement and her frontline staff who continued to deliver services, even when the “customers” could be “very, very challenging”.
CTC Chairman Howard Leisemann praised Mrs Temperton and the group’s management team – Janet Champney, Barb O’Hanlon, Kirsten Firman, Esther Ross, Susan Jerome and Anne Wendt – for successfully guiding CTC through a tough year.
He also thanked all levels of government, Federal, State and Local, for their support but noted that the “volatility” of the sector meant there was always a doubt about the future of programs.
He also thanked local corporations Stanwell, Downer EDI and Teys Leather for supporting CTC projects, especially Gumnut in Murgon.
Mr Leisemann made special mention of major scheme under development, “Heritage Lodge” in Nanango, which is a joint project of CTC and the Heritage Nanango Community Bank.
When completed, this will provide long-term accommodation in six duplexes for people with disabilities.
CTC is circulating a petition asking local residents to support the project, and also has an online survey.
