New face at Deloraine House

Deloraine local and former Meander Gazette volunteer Darren Harris was recently appointed as the Community Care Advisor at Deloraine House.

The Community Care Advisor is responsible for community development and community engagement within the Deloraine/Meander Valley area. 

Darren plans to build rapport with stakeholders, community groups and community member by listening and collaborating, and seeing where Deloraine House can engage further to address local needs and gaps in support services.

“I am a Deloraine local (well a relative newbie from Brisbane). My partner (Liisa who runs The Quilters Corner at Deloraine Creative Studios) and I chose to live in Deloraine due to its beautiful environment, fabulous community and its location in the Meander Valley as a rural farming, art and craft, tourist hub.”

Darren has had an extensive career in helping others, including street outreach, support coordinator (NDIS), psychosocial recovery coach, counsellor, guardian, team leader (disability support), senior program officer (Department of Communities - QLD) and volunteering. 

“In my spare time I love to compose ambient music, take photographs, teach photography and bushwalk, and you will regularly see me down at a local cafe or two sampling the brew and catching up with locals”.

“I love networking and creative problem solving. My motto is: you, me, your neighbour, we are the community. Let’s explore how we can all come together and help each other continue to make Deloraine an inclusive and caring community for all of us.”

Deloraine House provides in-house services and access to other outreach services to the community across the Meander Valley area and the Northern Midlands. 

It provides a 24/7 accessible food pantry, stocked by its Harvest Helpers volunteer program and its community gardens, emergency food parcels and essentials, and acts as an agency for No Interest Loans Scheme loans for low socio-economic members of the community.

Darren said if you would like to volunteer at Deloraine House, or donate produce or access a range of its services if you are in need of help, drop in.

“I am at Deloraine House on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (unless I am out and about networking in lovely Deloraine). Drop in and say hello, and find out what range of services can help you.”