More than 35 people gathered for a morning tea to farewell Jack Allen House on Saturday.

The morning tea was held at Jack Allen House in Durham Street. It was organised by Horowhenua District Council and the managers of the Jack Allen Community Centre, Contact Inc.

Horowhenua District Council’s Community Development Advisor, Helen Hayes, said the morning tea was an opportunity for the community groups and clients who had been part of the fabric of Jack Allen House over the years to reflect before they moved into a new, purpose-built Community Hub at the Levin RSA this week.

The gathering was attended by Contact Inc. chairperson Eleanor Gully, Horowhenua District Council Mayor Michael Feyen, Councillor Jo Mason, and representatives and clients of the community groups who used Jack Allen House.

Guests signed a remembrance book and local Kaumātua Matt Matamau performed a blessing.

Following the blessing, Ms Gully reflected on the history of Contact Inc. and shared some of her plans for the Community Hub’s new premises.

“Before Contact Inc. moved into Jack Allen House, we were located in an Oxford Street building called Te Whare Mahana, ‘The House of Warmth’. That name will be carried into the future as the name of the new Community Hub,” she said.

Contact Inc. and the community groups that use Jack Allen House will move into the new Community Hub at the Levin RSA on Thursday 1 March.

Jack Allen House will be demolished in March to make way for a new primary healthcare centre.

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