Hall or nothing

By Tania Martin
KALORAMA residents are furious at the news that the Shire of Yarra Ranges is preparing to sell the CWA Hall.
Mt Dandenong and District Historial Society secretary Pat Hogan said residents were preparing to fight to save the hall between now and the final decision in October.
“We are fuming and downhearted about this recommendation, but will continue to fight to save the hall,” Ms Hogan said.
In a report to council in October, shire staff have recommended the sale of the building.
However, shire manager of community relations James Martin said no firm decision had been made to sell the hall as it still has to be endorsed by the council.
This comes after the council formed a committee in August to decide its future.
The report was prepared after a meeting between local community groups, mayor David Hodgett, councillors Noel Cliff and Monika Keane, and council staff.
Cr Cliff said the staff who had made the recommendation did not understand the hall’s significance and that it was a case of putting the dollar value ahead of what people feel and the importance of heritage.
Ms Hogan planned to present a petition at the council meeting tonight (Tuesday) signed by 130 people to show the community support for keeping the hall open.
She said the hall had served the population of Kalorama for more than 95 years.
“Some people are quiet vehement about the hall not being sold as it is a part of the community, Ms Hogan said. “People went to Brownies there or went to a school concert.
“There are a lot of memories associated with the hall.”
Cr Cliff said it was frustrating that council had not considered the hall’s status as a community icon.
He said one of the arguments to sell the hall was that it had not been used for months.
However, Cr Cliff said the shire had made the hall unavailable for local residents.
“Last Christmas the KaloramaMt Dandenong CFA wanted to hire the hall for its safety meeting, but was told it was not available,” he said. Cr Cliff said if the hall was closed on the basis that it was used for less than 10 hours a week, then perhaps the Senior Citizens building would be next.
Ms Hogan said recent meetings on the shire’s future direction, under the Vision 2020 banner, had highlighted the importance of culture, but, on the other hand, council was looking to sell off 95 years of Kalorama’s heritage.