Hall group calls for new recruits

ORGANISING members for one of the community spaces in Golden Plains Shire’s south are calling out for new people to join their ranks.

With about six volunteers currently onboard, the team behind the Murgheboluc Hall and Recreation Reserve started their search last week, inviting people to attend their annual meeting last Tuesday to gauge interest in joining.

Though the meeting saw no new members, secretary Samantha Harvey said they’ll continue to promote their callout.

She said it’s important the committee sees some new blood.

“We’re running well but I think it would really support our current members and breathe new life into this if we got some new people,” she said.

“I’m fairly new but most of the people have been part of the committee for more than six years. We’ve got one member in their 30s and everyone else is 50s into their mid-60s.”

Ms Harvey took on the role of secretary early last year while the committee is currently without a president following the previous one’s departure at the start of 2023.

Following last week’s meeting, she said the group aims to expand their callout beyond their immediate surroundings, having initially advertised via community Facebook groups for Inverleigh and Bannockburn.

Since the Murgheboluc Cricket Club relocated to Newtown, the recreation reserve has seen no regular use from sporting clubs.

The field and hall are often utilised for functions like birthdays and weddings, and Ms Harvey said their bookings were doubled during COVID.

Although she said more people would know about the hall and recreation reserve since their lockdown boom, Ms Harvey speculated the sites wouldn’t see as much use as nearby equivalents.

Managed on behalf of the State’s Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Ms Harvey said the committee’s primary job is to keep the spaces functioning.

“It’s mainly around maintaining the hall and surrounding area and managing bookings,” she said.

“The hall itself is the old bluestone building originally built as the school. Then there’s the oval which doesn’t see as much use, plus the kids’ playground and barbecue area.

“I’d like to see about eight to 10 people, and they can come in at any time.”

The committee’s next meeting will take place on Monday 6 November at 7.30pm at the Murgheboluc Hall and to express interest in joining the committee email [email protected] or call 0459 042 910