Marilla House milestone

Marilla House in Rockingham was full of children playing on Sunday as the navy community gathered to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the centre.

Picture: HMAS Stirling commanding officer Capt Brett Wolski, Marilla House partfounder Yogi Nourse and Rockingham MLA Mark McGowan cut the cake.

The community centre, in Dargin Way, is a base for the wives and children of Royal Australian Navy servicemen stationed at Garden Island, to encourage them to socialise and get used to their new surroundings.

It was set up by six naval wives who came up with the idea over a cup of coffee, and is now funded by grants from the Federal Government as well as the members’ own fundraising efforts.

One of the founders, Yogi Nourse, cut the celebratory cake at the party, along with Rockingham MLA MarkMcGowan and Captain Brett Wolski, commanding officer at HMAS Stirling.

Mrs Nourse said she was proud to have been part of Marilla House since its inception and that over the years she had seen families becoming more resilient as they coped with being stationed in WA.

‘‘It is somewhere for wives to meet and be part of the community,’’ she said.

‘‘In the beginning people needed more assistance, but now they are more independent.’’