TWENTY five years ago former prime minister Bob Hawke touched down in a helicopter next to the Bellambi Neighbourhood Centre to officially open the facility.

State MP for Keira Ryan Park said while he didn’t expect Prime Minister Julia Gillard to make a grand entrance today, the centre would celebrate an important milestone.

The Bellambi centre is now in its 25th year of supporting the local community and Mr Park said he was delighted to be able to provide funding to help celebrate the achievement.

“This centre provides a range of services from programs to help young mothers and families to those that assist school children and senior live more productive and fulfilling lives,” he said.

“Having volunteered over the last 12 months with this centre I have been able to get a first hand understanding of the important work they do to assist the local community, particularly when it comes to supporting those people who are doing it tough,” he said.

“Robyn Alderton and her team of staff and volunteers deserve an enormous pat on the back for all the hard work they do each and every day to help people in our local community and I congratulate them on reaching this important milestone,” he said