The 30th anniversary of Community One was an example of a mighty oak growing from little acorns, the Chairman of Community One, Adam Birch, said when welcoming founders of the original Mount Martha Community Contact and guests to a birthday celebration last Saturday.
"We are celebrating the initiative, determination and hard work carried out by the founders", he added.
Created as a child care organisation, which initiated adult courses in the early 1980's, Mount Martha Community Contact gradually flourished.
"Several years ago we ascertained that 76 per cent of the people we served were from areas other than Mount Martha.
"It had become a Mornington Peninsula - wide organisation, based at Mount Martha, and so the original association evolved into Community One.
"We continue to grow and, last year, about 1,000 people attended our adult courses, there were 447 bookings for our low cost counseling service, about 150 families used our child care services and, most importantly, 1,530 hours were pro vided by volunteers, he added.
Community One is a not - for - profit association with a team of about 53 people, including 11 staff members, 29 sessional tutors and 14 volunteers.
Mr. Birch commended Jocelyn Kalwig - Kidd, founder of the original organisation, who is Vice-Chairman of Community One.
Guests of Honor Mayor Anne Shaw and local Federal parliamentarian Greg Hunt, both praised the founders, 17 of whom were in the audience, and all those who had continued this valuable community work.
The pair cut the traditional birthday cake and the founders were toasted with champagne donated by Hickinbotham Winery.