Steady as she goes for 4Cs

By Justin Robertson
AFTER 14 years at the helm of Pakenham’s 4Cs, Jeni Mathieson is showing no signs of “moving on”.
The 60-year-old director of Pakenham’s food and crisis centre said with the added 370 new clients at 4Cs, the place had never been busier.
“We are a major operation now, not just a food centre but a crisis relief centre too,” she said. “We had to move from our old location, otherwise we would have folded. We just outgrew it over eight years.”
Talking with Ms Mathieson in her office, she spoke of how at one point meetings used to be held in the 4Cs freezer at the old location and her desk was often shared. It was “tough times” at the 12 square house.
“We used to have meetings with police about certain clients and they would look around at our work space and see all the clutter and see that we were using things like the cooler for discussions,” she said. “ One day they said, ‘How do you do this?’ but now we have dedicated rooms, more storage and more staff.”
Inside the new complex there is: a freezer room dedicated to holding cabbage, cauliflower, leek, kiwi and apples from six local growers who choose to donate their stock; a major food room divided into two pick-up sections, a dairy and fresh vegetables unit; a kitchen where local chefs provide free cooking lessons; a prep room for packaging goods; a storeroom; a mezzanine floor for the Christmas hamper storage; and a hallway full of offices and counselling rooms.
With more space, it’s easy to see why Ms Mathieson is chuffed with her humble factory, that took 14 months to build, designed by local pastor and architect Don Press.
The best part of the new move has been the small things: parking for staff, fresh and clean rooms, a better atmosphere and a cool room.
“ To be able to have fresh products now is brilliant,” Ms Mathieson said. “Before, when farmers donated vegetables, if we didn’t get rid of them that same day it would go to waste. Now we have the facility to take everything in and keep it.”
Looking ahead, Ms Mathieson said she was eyeing some bigger projects that would further help the community of Pakenham.
“A lot of my friends say I should retire at 65, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. This is my passion and I love what I do so I think I’ll keep on working. It’s the challenges that push me further.”