MORE than 100 people came together on a Chelmsford estate to celebrate 10 years of the Melbourne Project.
The mission, which was launched in 2004 by two nuns, runs activities including a homework club, toddlers' group and older people's 'wisdom' group, many of which provide a lifeline to the public.
Sisters Margaret and Moira, who live in a base in Anderson Avenue, have helped to build a sense of community in the area where there previously was none, and have people "knocking on their doors day and night".
"We have been working in this area for 10 years," said Sister Margaret at the Scout hut on Langton Avenue, where the party was held on Saturday (July 19).
"We wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you to the masses of volunteers that we have, but also some funders here and the people of the Melbourne area for being open to welcome us."
A barbecue was sizzling away with food, while colourful salad looked delicious on plates, and laughter from young and old members of the group filled the air.
Green and red colourful flags fluttered in the breeze to attract people in, as did the smiles of people manning the front gate.
"We were teachers at New Hall School and we finished. We thought that we still had a lot of life in us and were in this to build a community," Sister Margaret continued.
"They did not know what nuns were at first – we ran our base in Anderson Avenue so that people know they can come to talk about whatever their issues are at the time. It's open to everybody."
And people have benefited not just from this, but also the various other clubs that the community has created, which were hailed in 2010 by a government minister as a shining example of how to reduce anti-social behaviour.
Member of the toddler group, Mandy Crabtree, 38, of Salerno Way, has been attending it for eight years and was there with her most recent addition to the family – Samuel, aged five months.
"There's a lot of stuff for kids and babies to do. It's a nice place to come to – it's not the same atmosphere in other places," she said.
"The nuns are lovely people, you go to another group and they are quite stuck up. We get on with everybody. I would not go anywhere else.
"I have been in Melbourne for 15 years and there was nothing for any older children before. You now see people who come here and you stop them and have a conversation."
Elsewhere, members of the 'wisdom group' for older people, also had positive things to say.
"Without this I would have been doing the washing," joked Georgina Cutter, who has been going for five years.
"We have people ranging from 46 to 90. Everybody gets on really well and if there's anything we need to know we talk and inform people."
"A lot of people like to come because that's the time when they can talk to somebody," added Margaret Keating, who has been going for seven years and added that at least 25 to 30 members attend each week.
In the corner, two Chelmsford County High School students, Regan Mudhar and Tiffany Hui, both 17, were playing folk music on guitars.
"It has been really nice and very enjoyable," said Regan. "We have been helping out in the homework club for a year – our school's sixth form does community service. It was difficult to start with but I think the project is worthwhile."
Tiffany added that it had given her the bug to work on similar projects in the future.
