Amy Hume
THE Kilmore Mechanics’ Institute is at risk of collapsing after more than 150 years of operation.
A sudden drop in active membership has the group calling for the support that it was once able to provide for the community.
KMI president Jeffrey Robinson said it was plain and simple.
“Unless KMI gets the support that’s needed by the end of March, it will fold,” he said.
Mr Robinson said he and vice president Wilma Hammond, secretary David Law and treasurer Marlene Robinson are “the four members who have kept KMI alive.”
He said there has been no obvious reason for the decline in active members and people of the community seem to have some affection for the group.
“Four years ago KMI had more than 100 financial members – in 2011 we have 20. That’s not enough to finance our running costs,” Mr Robinson said.
“We’ve already had to let slip the Open Garden Scheme because of this shortage of manpower and we didn’t have the support to run our usual Australia Day event.”
He said there are many other events in the town that would cease operation without the support of KMI, including well-attended events such as Scaretactics and Carols in the Park.
Both have been a major boost for town businesses and community spirit.
Mr Robinson said many new and emerging groups in the community could also suffer without a financial body to sustain them.
He said the KMI George Hudson awards have always supported community groups.
For many years KMI has supported deserving organisations and individuals with grants to enable them to pursue and develop through the George Hudson awards.
It has seen the growth and development of many events and organisations such as the Kilmore Celtic Festival, which has appeared on festival calendars across the world.
Kilmore Men’s Shed and Kilmore U3A were also born from KMI backing.
Former influential KMI president Jim Lowden said it was disappointing to hear the organisation was in such dire straits.
Mr Lowden said not only did KMI fund and support new groups and put on events, but it is also where “the real movers and shakers” of Kilmore were born.
“KMI does a lot of things behind the scenes that people never hear about,” he said.
“We involved ourselves in all sorts of things.
“Without KMI we wouldn’t have the Kilmore Courthouse or the Old Kilmore Gaol.
“We always chewed the major issues.”
He said the group also held regular chalk and cheese nights where the community could put forth their ideas for improving the town.
“It’s an organisation that will take any ideas on board,” he said.
Mr Lowden said KMI was responsible for bringing notable guest speakers to town, purchasing a local studies collection for Kilmore Library and even bringing the Book of Kells to Kilmore.
Mr Robinson said KMI was in grave danger of folding despite its great efforts.
He said emails and letters have been sent to existing financial members in an effort to gain active support but there is little more the organisation can do.
Mr Robinson encourages those interested in keeping a vital part of the town’s history alive to become an active member and be involved in building for the future.
Those interested are asked to call secretary David Law on 0417 304 966.
