july 06 - 12 | 2016
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circulating in wangaratta, myrtleford, bright, mt beauty, beechworth, yackandandah, rutherglen, chiltern and districts
Decking the hall By KYLIE WILSON
TEAM EFFORT:
Locals in the tiny Murmungee community who keep the local hall maintained include (from left) Maureen Rae (secretary/treasurer), Gordon Anderson, Denise Anderson, Brian Rae (president), Bruce Witherow, Nita Witherow and (front) Cathy Sonnemann. PHOTO: Wendy Stephens
GARDENING WITH
DEBBI
RSPCA
WITH
SLEEK
FILM
MIKE & DAVE: THE WEDDING
WINE TALK WITH
DATES
ANITA
ACROSS Australia, humble country halls in rural communities are the spot for celebrating milestones, working on community issues, entertaining the locals or even putting on a humble morning tea fundraiser. And Murmungee’s hall, central to a local population of around 50 families, is no exception, being the centre of tireless community efforts to maintain and improve it. It has almost 150 years of history, having been erected in 1869 by local residents for use as a school, hall and church, first opening on a chilly July day in that year. Generations of Murmungee locals have experienced pivotal moments in their lives within its walls – learning, praying, working, falling in love and enjoying each other’s company. The hall and its tranquil bushland surrounds are famous across the North East for the large Australia Day celebrations every year. The hall, classified as a Heritage listed building in 1968, has had something of a restoration and resurgence in the past decade, thanks to a dedicated and passionate core of community volunteers. Resident Gordon Anderson, an architect who lived in Murmungee as a child and made a treechange to return there in 2002, has helped plan much of the renovations and refurbishments, as well as handling many of the grant applications the project has required. “I’ve always had a tie to the North East,” he said. For Maureen Rae, who was born and bred in Murmungee, the hall holds fond memories. continued page |
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