Magic moment: Belconnen Early Childhood Centre
BECC children visit Santa!
The spirit of the festive season came alive at the Belconnen Early Childhood Centre (BECC) in mid-December as a group of five wide-eyed children embarked on a magical journey to meet the jolly man himself, Santa Claus!
Being located within Westfield Belconnen allows for easy and fun excursions for the children at BECC, and we think this just might have been their favourite one of the year.
There was laughter and excitement as our Centre Director Vivian and Educator Brianna led the children through the shopping crowds. They made a quick stop at a battery recycling bin (an opportunity to teach children about sustainability and what can’t go in the recycling bin at home), before continuing to Santa’s Grotto.
The moment they spotted Santa, excitement filled the air as the little ones eagerly awaited their special encounter with the bearded icon of the holiday season. The group waited in line (some more patiently than others), each child considering what to say to the man in the red suit.
Finally, the moment arrived! Each child took their turn telling Santa what they wanted for Christmas, amid promises to leave an extra special treat for Santa and his reindeer on Christmas Eve. It was beautiful to watch the joy and excitement in their little faces.
As they walked back upstairs, the children gushed about their experiences with each other and the Educators. They were full of excitement the rest of the day, which has only continued as we have gotten closer to Christmas Day.
We love how our location allows us to take advantage of all the exciting opportunities and experiences at Westfield Belconnen and the wider Belconnen community.
Recent News Stories
Following on from the signage placed around the Belconnen Community Centre and notices distributed to participants, we are sharing this update to confirm that the Swanson Court carpark has now permanently closed as of Tuesday 2 April 2025, due to a new development at the site by JWLand.
Young people in Belconnen now have easier access to free, confidential health and wellbeing support with the arrival of the T25 Clinic at Belconnen Youth Centre. Every Thursday from 2pm to 5pm the T25 Clinic van, Mini Pat, will be on-site offering a safe and welcoming space for young people aged 12 to 25. There’s no need for an appointment – just drop in when you need support.
The Canberra Day Appeal 2025 has wrapped up for another year and we are grateful to everyone who contributed, either by making a donation or helping to spread awareness. Thanks to the generosity of our community, employees and corporate supporters, we raised an amazing $6,736.40 – an increase from $5590 in 2024. These funds will go directly towards recruiting, training and supporting more volunteer transport drivers, ensuring people in our community can get to their essential medical appointments for chronic health conditions such as cancer and kidney disease.
Patsy is a lifelong storyteller and a creative spirit. For nearly 20 years, she was a storyteller at early childhood education centres, captivating children with her tales – sometimes using handmade props to bring them to life, other times sharing stories she wrote herself. Creativity has always been second nature to her, and when she’s caught up in a project, time flies by often leading to late nights. Though she recently stepped away from storytelling, she continues her creative pursuits, including a quilt project through Involve (stay tuned!).
For Therese Beckmann, sewing isn’t just about fabric and stitches – it’s a way of telling stories, bringing people together and creating something meaningful. After 30 years of working in sewing, dressmaking and teaching, she realised she wanted to take her skills beyond the retail space and into the community. She had always felt drawn to the senior age group, especially after hearing students in her art classes say, “This is better than therapy.” Hearing it over and over made her realise just how powerful creativity could be in bringing people together and improving wellbeing.