Community
10 April, 2025
Cooinda celebrates
COOINDA celebrated a historic 70 years with around 200 people attending a special anniversary party last week.
The occasion also saw the release of a new book written by Mortlake historian Craige Proctor, ‘A Happy Place: The Story of Cooinda Terang 1955-2025’ to celebrate the milestone.
Mr Proctor said he was thrilled with the showing of support from the wider south west community.
“I’m overwhelmed,” he said.
“Having researched those early years, to see that the spirit, the solidarity and the sense of community is still there – if not even bigger – I find that very emotional.
“To see everyone here is just very inspiring.”
Cooinda chief executive officer Janice Harris said it was heart-warming to see so many people in attendance.
“We’re quite overwhelmed – I can’t believe how many people attended,” she said.
“There’s so many families who are part of our history, so many connections – it’s amazing.
“How much impact Cooinda has had, and how reliant people have been on Cooinda, is incredible.
“I’m very proud to be part of Cooinda, and I’m sure everyone else is too – whether they’re been a board member or a staff member.”
Marianne Margin (nee Sergeant) was a guest speaker who left the audience in tears recounting the incredible experience her family had with Cooinda supporting her brother, Bernie.
She praised the work all involved at Cooinda have done to protect and support some of the most vulnerable members of the community, and how in-depth Mr Proctor had been in shining the spotlight on that reality through the book.
“It’s a great celebration,” she said.
“I had an advanced copy of the book and, even though we have a lifelong connection through my brother and my family, there’s so many surprises – there’s such a depth of history there.
“There’s tunnel vision – you only see how these services impact you without seeing the breadth of how Cooinda impacts so many people in the community.
“Cooinda has been formative for Terang in the same way Terang was for Cooinda – it’s a close relationship between the town and the people.”
Corangamite Shire councillor Geraldine Conheady was among those in attendance.
She said she had reflected on how Cooinda is not just an idea but a positive aspect of people’s lives which the community gets to experience on a daily basis.
“Cooinda has a beautiful legacy, and it’s still alive,” Cr Conheady said.
“I couldn’t help but think about the history, the joy and the beauty which has been brought to so many people in the broader community.
“We see it alive – we see the living Cooinda with participants and their carers around the streets, being enriched by the support Cooinda provides them.
“Clearly that’s been the history and it’s still there today.”
Member for Wannon Dan Tehan also spoke at the celebration, saying Cooinda – the Aboriginal word for “a happy place” – was the perfect description of what the disability service provider has archived.
“Cooinda is not just a happy place, it’s a loving place,” he said.
“We see that with everyone who is here today because they love Cooinda, what it’s done for the participants, and how it’s helped and supported families.
“Cooinda is an incredible part of the community, and having the chance to celebrate that makes for a really, really special day.”
Copies of ‘A Happy Place: The Story of Cooinda Terang 1955-2025’ are available from Collins Books Warrnambool, Terang Newsagency, Terang Post Office, The Little Acorn Café and Camperdown Newsagency.
The book will also be available in local libraries.
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