THE Reedy Creek community now has facilities that will be the envy of many country towns, following the official opening of its refurbished hall and new outdoor entertaining area on Saturday.
Victorian Bushfire Appeals Fund Chairman Pat McNamara made a special trip to Reedy Creek for the June 18 opening, which included about 40 community members and Member for Seymour, Cindy McLeish, Member for McEwen, Rob Mitchell, and Mitchell Shire Councillor Des Callaghan.
The Victoria Police Pipe Band entertained.
Identified by the Reedy Creek Community Advisory Group as a priority following the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, the project received $176,034 from the Rebuilding Together Plan which was funded by the State and Federal Governments, the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund and donors.
A building committee was formed to oversee the project, which included Kerry Cunningham, Bev Bullen, Lorraine and Doug Flower, Sue Handbury, John and Gail Griggs, Karen Zanini and Phil Searle.
Mr Searle said the hall was dilapidated, so further funds were sourced, bringing the total project up to more than $200,000.
“The place was just about stuffed; the roof was leaking and it was down about two inches in one corner. It was going to fall down if we didn’t do something,” he said.
Refurbishments included restumping, re-roofing and, re-wiring the historic building which served as the local school from the 1880s till it finally closed in 1965.
With insulation and split system heater and cooling, the hall now offers more comfort than ever before. It also has a new kitchen.
The spacious undercover outdoor entertaining area includes a barbecue/cooking area, toilets and a storage shed.
Work still to be done includes repainting the hall’s exterior and landscaping works.
The committee hopes to install solar panels on the roof to help reduce energy costs, and hopes to attract greater use of the facility by community groups and visitors to the area.
