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Community Spirit Shines Bright for Flynn Hall Makeover
A 97-year-old building can serve the community once again, thanks to the people of the small Latrobe City township of Flynn.
The people of the small Latrobe City township of Flynn have worked together to renovate the Flynn Hall so that the 97 year old building can once again serve the community as a focal point.
Latrobe City Council’s mayor, Councillor Darrell White, said the collaborative nature of the project was a testament to the strength of spirit in the community.
"The community received a Special Grant to undertake the work at the hall. We value the commitment and effort from the community here at Flynn. Many of the people who live here helped in their own way, whether that was labouring, painting or delivering afternoon tea for the workers. Any contribution was meaningful.
"Halls like these are a real gathering place for locals and can serve a greater purpose – a way to prevent social isolation in farming or smaller communities. It’s essential that they are preserved in our landscape. Community halls are a historical marker – this one will celebrate its 100th year in 2021 and is a "nerve centre", housing community groups that offer social connectedness," Cr White said.
Flynn Hall Committee of Management Treasurer, Rowan Paulet, said the community had a desire to see the hall restored as a hub for use by community groups and families.
"It was a big job to undertake the renovations inside. It was at the point of being unusable and the committee could not hire it out. The floor needed to be replaced and the walls needed to be painted. We got quotes but they were too expensive so we decided to apply for grants funding through Council. Whilst we were waiting for the grant application to be reviewed for consideration, we decided to do some of the work ourselves.
"Around 20 people joined in with the preparation and painting works that took over a month to complete. We made sure we had a project manager, a local community member, to drive the work in an efficient way, but basically we just all pitched in what we could.
Secretary, Fiona Derham, added that it was the in-kind donations to the project that really made a difference.
"We had people ringing to say they were in Traralgon, did we need anything, or the CWA putting on a spread when there was a working bee. The little things made a big difference.
"The hall is now able to be hired again for events and community use. We have several user groups already – the badminton club, tennis club, CWA, Landcare and Farm Group. The CFA also shares the grounds and uses the hall. This is the central meeting point in Flynn.
"Renovating the hall has really brought us back together as a community. We now have a space we are proud of, one that is functional and one that means we can now plan more largescale events that will lead to further fundraising opportunities which lead to more investment in the hall.
"We have organised the Flynn Ball in the past and we would like to hold another event like it to bring the community together and to raise much needed funds for the next project. Renovating the outside is on the agenda. That will be a big job, but we are ready!" Fiona concluded.
Mayor, Councillor Darrell White and Councillor Darren Howe with members of the Flynn Hall Committee of Management
The collaborative nature of the project was a testament to the strength of spirit in the community.
Source: www.gippsland.com
Published by: support@gippsland.com
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