The major renovation of the Corryong & District Memorial Hall and the adjoining RSL Hall has been completed and the Upper Murray community is invited to celebrate the milestone next month.

Faced with closure at the end of 2007 due to both lack of interested community volunteers to manage it and in desperate need of a new roof and repair, the financially strapped Memorial Hall has been rejuvenated to become the jewel in the crown of the town.

To recognise the amazing turnaround in the hall’s fortunes, a ’Million Thanks” Morning Tea and associated events have been organised over the weekend February 24th- 26th to recognise the people, businesses, trades and groups who supported the refurbishment and to celebrate the culmination of 15 years of dedicated work by the volunteer Committee of Management.

A group of dedicated civic elders had managed the public hall since it was built by community working parties to replace the Atheneum Hall and opened to a fanfare of publicity and a glittering Opening Ball in 1959.

It was described as ‘one of the finest halls outside the capital city [ Melbourne]’ (Liquid Gold Australia- Australian Publicity Council) – an outstanding accomplishment for a small town at the far north east corner of the state. Funded entirely by community fundraising it was indeed a remarkable achievement.

By 2007 the management of the hall was left in the hands of three original committee members struggling to find a way to keep the hall afloat financially and able to be used by the community it served.

A new core group of volunteers with community at heart was formed and held public meetings to garner support for the hall.

A wish list of essential and desirable works was drawn up.

Engagement of advisors, support from local council, businesses, community and regional politicians led to both local fundraising and the applications for a variety of grants that were becoming increasingly available from the wider area business and government groups.

A positive to come out of the devastating bushfires that impacted the town and surrounding districts in 2019-2020 was recovery funding which provided the necessary money for the hall committee to go the extra mile.

Combining the management and upgrades of the Memorial Hall and RSL precinct in 2021 enabled it to become a community hub of activities including sports, social interaction, the arts, dance, culture, business facility and meeting place.

Corryong Café Brew was opened in April 2019 under a business plan to provide an income stream to support the hall into the future with the conversion of the kiosk into a fully equipped commercial kitchen.

The seldom used front verandah converted to a covered dining area overlooking the main street and the foyer became an indoor eating area. An added bonus has been the proprietors initiating training and employment for local young people.

More recent funding has transformed the ‘crying room’ into a full bar facility.

The appointment of a caretaker with residential use of the attached caretaker’s flat has also lessened the volunteer committee’s responsibilities.

Funding grants have also seen the installation of solar power and battery back-up facilities, large parking and access area, full audio and lighting equipment, replacement of the grand piano, additional storage, a fully equipped ‘green room’, seating and tables to cater for large groups, resurfaced flooring for the stage and main auditorium and toilet and shower facilities in the RSL, hall foyer and back-stage areas.

These upgrades make the precinct an ideal designated place of last refuge in the event of a natural disaster.

The committee of management is a dedicated group of volunteers who have given much time and effort into restoring the hall to its glory days, however they are now inviting the next generation to step up and continue to procure further funding, initiate a wider range of hall use activities and keep the Corryong Memorial and RSL hall precinct thriving.

The celebrations will start with the ’Million Thanks” Morning Tea on Friday February 23rd at the hall at 10.30am and will culminate in a community event ‘Let’s Celebrate Living’ on Saturday night in the hall.

It will be a night of toe-tapping fun with entertainment by the Good Sugar band supported by The Hoffman Duo. Stage show from 7.30pm to 11.30pm. Book online at www.eventbookings.com/b/event/let-s-celebrate-living.

Adding to the weekend will be four Corryong High School reunions:-

• 1953-1959 – contact Rosemary Neil 0409 761 529 / dougrosemaryneil@gmail.com
• 1958-1963 – phone 0428 226 874 for contact details
• 1962-1967 – contact Helen Whitsed 0419 532 368 / hwhits49@gmail.com
• 1965-1971 phone 0428 226 874 for contact details

Each reunion contact will supply interested persons with details – $50 per person to be paid to secure booking.

Rounding off the weekend will be a Sunday walk through Corryong College plus lunch in Attree Park with catering by the Corryong Lions Club.

This article appeared in the Corryong Courier, 25 January 2024.