Rural community project comes to fruition

Rhonda, Sue And Julie Allendale Hall  TBW Newsgroup
ONE STEP AT A TIME: Allendale East Public Hall committee member Rhonda Jess, secretary Sue Ryan and president Julie Lloyd stand in front of the hall during construction. Pictures: MOLLY TAYLOR

Rhonda, Sue And Julie Allendale Hall  TBW Newsgroup
ONE STEP AT A TIME: Allendale East Public Hall committee member Rhonda Jess, secretary Sue Ryan and president Julie Lloyd stand in front of the hall during construction. Pictures: MOLLY TAYLOR

REDEVELOPMENT of Allendale East Public Hall has started, with stage one completed last week.

Half of the hall’s roof has been replaced with a new layer of zincalume steel in a similar in style to the original early 1900s roof.

With the Allendale East community fundraising towards the project, hall president Julie Lloyd said the committee decided to proceed with stage one works to show the township plans were progressing.

“Slowly but surely we are ticking off the hall’s list of things we need done,” she said.

Chris Waters, Brett Menzies, Mondo Stanton  TBW Newsgroup
HELPING HAND: Chris Waters’ Plumbing director Chris Waters, Brett Menzies’ Carpentry director Brett Menzies and plumber Mondo Stanton all had personal connections with the Allendale East Public Hall. The trio had the opportunity to replace half the hall’s roof on Thursday.

“The community has been generous towards the roof funds, which were raised through quiz nights at the Bellum Hotel, our community cattle scheme, successful garage sale, the last two small hall festival events and a donation of $500 from the Port MacDonnell Lions Club.

“We had enough to spend on half the roof but not the other so the worse half was replaced first.”

Ms Lloyd said the committee hoped this time next year the other half of the hall’s roof would be replaced.

“We wanted to prevent further damage and decay as it is one of the few community assets left in Allendale and we need to take care of it,” she said.

“Quotes for the half of the roof were around $6000 and if we include all of the down pipes the whole roof will cost us around $13,000.

Julie Lloyd Allendale Hall  TBW Newsgroup
PROUD: Allendale East Public Hall president Julie Lloyd stands in the hall, which has been a valuable community asset over the years.

“Currently in the bank we have just over $11,000 so we are nearly there.”

Ms Lloyd said Grant District Council’s community grant scheme would provide $2667 once the project is complete.

“We are grateful for committee members donating their time and the community which come along to all our well-supported events,” Ms Lloyd said.

“This would not have been able to happen without them.”