TIA takes Stronger Communities grant to the floor

THE Torquay Improvement Association’s (TIA) hall will get a new floor as part of the latest round of Stronger Communities Program grants from the federal government.

The TIA will receive $15,000 to replace the wooden floor in the main hall, along with repair and maintenance of existing floor joists.

The new floor – which is wearing out and slightly warped in some places – will be built of Tasmanian oak over the Christmas break, with the aim of having it ready by January 20 ahead of the Australia Day dances in the hall on January 25.

The hall in Price Street was originally built in 1890, and TIA secretary Lesley McQuinn said some parts of the existing floor were original from when the hall was rebuilt in 1940 following a fire.

“They can’t sand it any more, it’s got too thin. We’ve been sanding it every two years and polishing it and repolishing it to keep it up – we’ve got a dancing club here that like nice floors, so we like to keep it nice for them.

“Now we’ve got a bit of money, let’s do it.”

Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson met with TIA members and representatives from some of its user groups last week, and said the $15,000 in funding was Corangamite’s largest single grant.

“We’re absolutely delighted, and I know you’ve done such an incredible job for the community in supporting this part of the world with everything you’ve done here.

“It’s called the Stronger Communities Program for a very good reason: we use this money to build stronger communities.”

Other projects funded in this round of the Stronger Communities Program include $10,000 for the Anglesea SLSC for clubhouse upgrades to provide a suitable location, in the event of a bushfire emergency, for the Anglesea community
and emergency organisations; and $10,000 to help set up a new Scouts group in Apollo Bay.