A unique partnership is set to breathe new life into the Glenburnie Soldier’s Memorial Hall.
Mount Gambier veterans are looking to team up with the Glenburnie Hall committee to create a fun, functional and safe space for veterans and their families to come and gather together, and join in with the community.
A meeting held last weekend attracted around 20 Glenburnie locals, veterans and hall committee members.
Discussion involved the possibility of providing veterans and those suffering from trauma somewhere safe to attend counselling sessions discreetly, and also host events and social activities for all.
Veterans advocate Laurie Mann called the meeting to kickstart the idea, and gather support.
“We are trying to work out how we can get together our veterans and mentor people and give them a place where they can come in safety and in absolute privacy so they can come in, they can talk to their mates or we can help people in trouble – maybe go out and mow the grass or help them out,” he said.
“It would open for all veterans, their families, women, men, kids everything and then down the track with the help of the hall, we want to make it a child friendly place with playgrounds and all that sort of stuff.”
Assisting with the plan is Millicent RSL president Chris Mathias, and Mr Mann said RSL SA was on board.
Glenburnie Hall committee president Jeff Braun said the committee welcomed the partnership, especially given the hall was established din memory of Glenburnie locals who lost their lives in conflict.
“Sustaining the hall for the next 20 or 30 years is the objective and we’re a not-for-profit organisation, so if we can get some interest in developing this precinct into a facility that would be very beneficial for the community and also for the veterans, I think that would be very fitting.
“This is a war memorial hall and our tennis courts have got little marble plaques for the men from this area that lost the life.
“I think we’ve heard from the people that were here at the meeting about how important it is for people who are veterans to have a safe place to come and we even heard that it’s not only veterans, it’s people involved in SES, etc, and are involved with trauma and need a safe area to come for counselling.
“So it’s got tremendous potential.”
