General News
2 July, 2026
Centre’s growth gets backed
RECENTLY the ‘Goss’ covered an upcoming event held by the Port Douglas Community Service with a dual purpose, firstly to raise some funds, but also to allow the community an opportunity to contribute their future plans.
The Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre’s ‘Be the reason we grow’ fundraising campaign has got off to a fantastic start, with more than $23,000 raised following a successful community launch.
More than 100 people attended the launch event at the Tin Shed, including Mayor Lisa Scomazzon, councillors, Member for Cook David Kempton, community leaders, local businesses, volunteers and supporters.
The event also featured a live outside broadcast by Douglas FM, helping spread the campaign’s message across the Douglas Shire. Port Douglas Community Service Network CEO Emma Travers said the response from the community had been overwhelming.
“The support we’ve received has been incredible,” she said.
“Seeing so many people come together to support the future of the neighbourhood centre reminds us just how much this centre means to our community. We are so grateful to everyone who has donated, attended the launch or helped spread the word.”
The campaign has already received generous support from local businesses, including With Sugar, Ramada, LJ Hooker, Rodgers Rides and Zanders Beach Café, alongside many individual donors.
One of the most touching aspects of the campaign has been donations made in memory of long-term volunteers who dedicated so much of their time to the centre.
Their legacy will continue to be recognised through the mangrove donation mural, ensuring their contribution to the community is remembered for years to come.
The campaign has also received a significant boost from local volunteer and Douglas Shire senior citizen of the year Bruce Ferguson, who recently reached the remarkable milestone of collecting 390,000 eligible containers through Containers for Change.
His latest donation of $2000 brings his contribution to the centre to more than $34,000 over the years and reflects his extraordinary commitment to supporting the community.
“Our centre has always been built by the community, for the community” Ms Travers said.
“Every donation, whether it’s $20 or $2000, helps us move closer to creating a safer, more accessible and more resilient centre that will continue supporting local people for generations to come,” she said.
Funds raised through the Be the reason we grow’ campaign will support renovations that improve the centre’s security, accessibility, comfort and disaster resilience, ensuring it can continue delivering vital services to the Douglas community.
The fundraising campaign remains open, with all donations tax deductible. Community members and businesses wishing to support the project can donate online or contact the Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre to find out more.
“We’ve made a wonderful start, but we still have a long way to go,” Ms Travers said.
“We’re inviting everyone in our community to be part of this project. Donations over $100 will be recognised through the campaign’s mangrove donation mural, symbolising the way a community grows stronger when everyone contributes, just like the interconnected roots of a mangrove,” she said. “The campaign’s largest donation so far has been an incredible $10,000 from a long-term local resident. The generous contribution places the donor as the current front runner for naming rights to the centre’s new community barbecue shed, one of the exciting additions planned as part of the redevelopment,” Ms Travers said.
The initial stages of this campaign have been hugely successful and once again highlights the amazing generosity and passion of locals in the Shire.
I’m off to say well done to everyone involved in this amazing effort, so for now it’s Gazza signing out.
Send your stories to gazza@cairnslocalnews.com.au
