ANGELA COLLINS TAKES OVER THE REINS OF BAY ISLANDS COMMUNITY SERVICES
Angela Collins is the new permanent manager of the Bay Islands Community Services.
She was appointed to the position following the recent retirement of former long-time manager, Tony Controneo.
Tony cited health issues as the cause of his retirement.
He had been manager of the popular island organisation for about 11 years, being appointed in 2009, following on from original manager Ailsa Harding.
Ironically the organisation later this year marks its 25th anniversary.
Bay Islands Community Services originally started on Macleay Island in 1995 and then quickly spread to Russell Island with busy outlets on both islands.
Angela Collins was appointed as assistant manager to Tony four years ago.
She went on to develop the Macleay precinct with 13 island trainees in a Skilling Queenslanders for Work program, Cert 1 in Construction, who did an amazing job renovating the op shop.
Today the area functions with an op shop that sells only quality clothes at a great price, sports a coffee corner, and in September will see the opening of the plant nursery, currently in development. (They welcome plant cutting donations and any empty pots).
Macleay BICS also manages the Centrelink Kiosk and Tourist Information Centre.
Angela Collins is particularly proud of the the CAN DO Companion Line which was formed during the Covid crisis, to keep in touch with anyone on the islands who felt cut off and left out.
Angela said: “I am very excited for the direction, and the role BICS can have in the community moving into the future; as we have a marked change on the islands with a huge influx of new people, and Covid has certainly changed the way we do things.”
By the way, BICS is looking for passionate volunteers who want to assist with programs, projects, activities and events.
Make yourself known to Angela as she would love to meet you at either the Russell or Macleay precincts; and she will ‘shout’ you a barista coffee at one of the BICS Coffee Corners.
Volunteers can contribute, to or train in barista, work in the plant nursery, op shops, administration, train as one of the Centrelink Kiosk personnel, or be part of the CAN DO think tank for programs projects, activities and events, gardening, collect donations, be a supervisor, and or contribute to the Companion Line, working with Seniors.
• Tony Controneo handing over the reins to Angela Collins.
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