By Vanessa Parker<\/p>\n
King Charles III had the RAF Red Arrows flyover after his Coronation, and when the Minister for Youth officially opened the new Ballan Scout Hall facility, there was a very Australian flyover.<\/p>\n
A flock of noisy, squawking cockatoos briefly interrupted the speech of Natalie Suleyman MP with the Minister saying, \u201cthis must be a bit of a welcome\u201d.<\/p>\n
Minister Suleyman said the new 1st Ballan Scouts facility was not just a hall.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026 but a place where family and friends can come along and make lifelong friendships and learn all sorts of skills, not just tying knots or camping out in the bush,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Ballan Scout Hall received a contribution of $500,000 from the Victorian Government, to make sure it will be a suitable venue for Scouts well into the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Scouts moved into what was, the old Guides Hall in Inglis Street a few years ago and outgrew that very quickly.<\/p>\n
Tony Bellette is the Group Leader at 1st Ballan Scouts and told the Moorabool News the organisation had 45 youth members with eight leaders.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is just phenomenal to have this facility,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has allowed us to create new programs for the members, giving us a permanent home.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have more space now and this will also benefit the kids and help with their education in the scouting movement.\u201d<\/p>\n
The large crowd in attendance listened to a string of political speeches with the Member for Eureka saying she will keep this short \u201cas you are at risk of death by a thousand political speeches\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are a lot of us here, and I have to say this has been a long, long journey,\u201d Michaela Settle said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first announcement was way back in 2018 when I was first elected and, it has been a long time coming out of the ground with a lot of hard work by a lot of different people in the community to get where we are.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Scout Hall is a multi-use facility for the Ballan community to enjoy with improvements including accessible bathrooms, improved parking, modern kitchen facilities and several multipurpose rooms. <\/p>\n
Moorabool Mayor Cr Rod Ward said everyone who has played a part in the new facility can be very proud.<\/p>\n
\u201cGreat things can be achieved by working together, that is proven here and we are happy to have played a very small part in achieving this dream for the local Ballan Scouts group,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Commonwealth Government also contributed $550,000 through the Building Better Regions Fund with, Moorabool Shire Council contributing $100,000 by their Community Development Grants.<\/p>\n
To join the 1st Ballan Scouts you must be aged from five years old up until the age of 18.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Vanessa Parker King Charles III had the RAF Red Arrows flyover after his Coronation, and when the Minister for Youth officially opened the new Ballan Scout Hall facility, there was a very Australian flyover. A flock of noisy, squawking cockatoos briefly interrupted the speech of Natalie Suleyman MP with the Minister saying, \u201cthis must […]<\/p>\n