Hall of Gain

BARWON Heads’ much-loved community hall will receive a new lease on life thanks to a $135,000 upgrade.  Built in 1938, the hall has been the hub of Barwon Heads’ community life for 80 years and is extensively used by a wide range of community groups.

Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville met with a few members from the hall’s Committee of Management on Tuesday to announce the funding, which will replace its deteriorating original flooring.  The state government, through the Community Support Fund, will contribute $110,000, while the hall’s committee of management has contributed the remaining $25,000.

This is the first time in 80 years the hall has received any outside funding, with all money raised to date through fundraising efforts by a dedicated group of volunteers.  The hall is owned by the Barwon Heads community and has even survived two floodings – in 1951 and 1952.

Ms Neville said the hall had heritage status, and was very much part of the town’s history and therefore deserved protection and preservation.  “As a local member, it was not acceptable to me to see the hall falling into a state of disrepair due to a lack of funding,” Ms Neville said.  “As such, I was more than pleased to support the Committee of Management when they raised the matter with me late last year.”

Ms Neville said the hall was extensively used by a wide range of community groups, including exercise classes, youth groups, senior citizens and for film nights, concerts, dances and many social functions.  In addition, it is very important to note that as we move closer to ANZAC Day, the hall is now used for local commemoration, together with Remembrance Day Service in November.

“I congratulate the Barwon Heads Community Hall Committee of Management for their hard work over many years in the up keep of the facility and their funfraising efforts,” Ms Neville said.  “They are a dedicated and professional group of volunteers and I thank each and every one of them for their efforts.”