Who We Are & What We Do
We're a not-for-profit organisation run by a community-based Board of Governance and we're part of a network of Neighbourhood Houses
We offer a range of services including adult education, venue hire, community café, emergency relief, special events, technology support and access to government services
Our reach extends even further through our ability to be the auspicing body for other community groups, who can then weave even more community focused, cultural offerings into our region
Meet the Team
We have some great people on staff. You will very likely be welcomed by one of these faces when you come into Manna Gum and they'll make sure you connect with the right help.
Manager
Rebecca Matthews
Bec brings her skills in stakeholder management, advocacy, strategic partnerships, fundraising and welfare to her role at Manna Gum.
In addition to her work in the social sector Bec has a background in media and communications with seven years experience working in film and television production and as a professional writer.
Book keeper
Kerry Strauss
Kerry works in the office and manages the finances at Manna Gum. She has a wealth of experience working for community organisations.
She is a professional artist with a home studio in Foster called Luminous Glass.
Services Australia and Front Office
Sandra Liversidge
Sandra's calm and commonsense nature is perfect in her role helping people with Centrelink, Medicare, passports, form filling - everything, really - so that people can go about their day knowing that those tricky tasks are sorted.
When she's not helping Manna Gum visitors she's dreaming of seeing her beloved grandkids in WA.
Customer Support Coordinator
Shannon Gee
Shannon joins the Manna Gum team working in the Services Australia agency and in the office. She has an extensive background in hospitality and administration and says she thoroughly enjoys working with people from all walks of life and loves nothing more than helping people - which includes extensive volunteer work at the Foster Primary School and Corner Inlet Stingrays Football Club.
Programs and Engagement Coordinator
Beth Arnold
Beth supports the coordination and delivery of programs at Manna Gum, with a focus on term-based programming, community engagement, and events.
Beth is a professional artist whose practice focuses on environment and community. She has experience coordinating creative programs, public art, and working across education and community sectors.
Food System Alliance Project Coordinator
James Duffield
James brings extensive experience in hospitality and people-focused management, and previously worked as General Manager at the Collingwood Children’s Farm. He runs his own regenerative farm in South Gippsland, bringing hands-on farming experience and a strong connection to regional food systems.
Where we've come from
We celebrated 40 years of operation in 2021 - a tremendous effort by so many local characters over the years.
From the beginning it was a place for social gatherings, but perhaps could have been better sited: imagine sturdy diggers in those early years having to carry their ladies on their backs so ballgowns would remain clear of the muddy track! What is now Manna Gum Community House was originally constructed as a Mechanics Institute which then became the Courthouse, with the Police residence and stables constructed nearby. The first sitting in the Courthouse was in August 1889 and it was used in this manner right up until 1983.
In the early 1980s it was the local women who felt there was a need for services and supports for themselves and their children and after a number of years being housed as a community service in the Anglican hall, the Foster Community House moved to its current premises in 1992. The name was changed to Manna Gum Community House in 2016 to better reflect the services provided to the wider Corner Inlet region - services that have included a myriad of activities, from how-to workshops to Centrelink assistance, playgroups and adult courses, referrals to other social supports and so much more. In essence, though, it's a place to meet, to ask for a hand and to enjoy the company of others.