Deakin Cats Community Centre welcomes 30,000th visitor

The Deakin Cats Community Centre at the Geelong Football Club has welcomed its 30,000th visitor since opening its doors in June 2013.

Over 20 months of operation, the Deakin Cats Community Centre has been utilised by 30,000 people who have participated in community programs, education sessions, visited the centre's memorabilia display or utilised the centre as a third party user.

Funded by the Victorian State Government, as part of the redevelopment of the Players Stand, the Deakin Cats Community Centre has allowed for greater engagement with the Geelong community.

Deakin University Vice Chancellor Jane den Hollander said Deakin is proud to be involved in such a fantastic facility.

"Pride in our football club is something Geelong is famous for, and just like our beloved Cats, this amazing Deakin Cats Community Centre brings people together across social boundaries and diverse interests," Professor den Hollander said.

"With every person who walks through its doors, the Deakin Cats Community Centre is raising educational aspirations – for all students to be as good as they can be and this includes indigenous students, others who have been disadvantaged in some way and those busy with work and other responsibilities.

"This is a remarkable milestone and Deakin looks forward to watching the centre continue to flourish as it welcomes its next 30,000 visitors."

Geelong Cats Chief Executive Brian Cook said the Deakin Cats Community Centre represents the club's commitment to community development, inclusion, support and serving the region.

"We are proud to reach 30,000 visitors but more so we're proud that we have had 54 different community organisations deliver health and wellbeing sessions from the centre.  We are able to offer a state of the art facility free of charge to user groups," Mr Cook said.

For more information about the Deakin Cats Community Centre, visit: http://www.deakin.edu.au/industry-and-community/community-engagement/geelong/community-partners/deakin-cats-community-centre