Work is done, so committee signs off

By Kath Gannaway
THERE were mixed emotions in Warburton last week as the committee set up to save the Warburton Mechanics Institute Hall officially signed off.
“There is still work to be done further down the track, but as of last night the Save The Warburton Mechanic’s Institute and Free Library has wound up,” longterm committee member Sue Mann said.
“We have achieved what we set out to do – and that was to save the hall.”
The future of the historic hall is now the responsibility of the Shire of Yarra Ranges steering committee, which is charged with its restoration and ongoing management.
Yarra Ranges manager building and assets Megan Broome said the shire was finalising tender details but could not let a tender for restoration work until after council elections at the end of this month.
“We anticipate we will be finalising the contract after the 28th of this month and are hoping to be able to commence work early in the new year,” Ms Broome said.
Ms Mann said the campaign to save the hall had been a big part of many people’s lives for more than 13 years, and while there was a great sense of achievement, it also felt strange to be letting go.
“We’re quite pleased really, when you consider we have been at it since 1992 and I know a lot of people didn’t think we had a snowball’s chance in hell of succeeding,” she said.
“It just goes to show that a small group of persistent people can make a difference.”
Ms Mann said the campaign had been a massive learning experience.
“We’ve learned along the way how to deal with interminable delay with the sheer bloodymindedness of bureaucracy, three changes of state government, the (Yarra Ranges) commissioners, three changes of local government and we still stuck in there even though they threw every obstacle in our way.”
Save the Hall Committee chairperson and a driving force from the beginning Julie Gasson is not so pleased with the outcome of her long years of campaigning.
She said while she was also pleased to see the hall saved she was not happy with plans for its future use.
“Part of our campaign was that the original concept of the hall, not just the building, should be saved,” she said.
“I wanted to see the hall being used for all the types of things it was used for before, such as badminton and gymnastics, but they (the steering committee) have made it very obvious they are not having those things any more.
“Basically, I don’t want to see it so full of art and culture at the expense of real daytoday activities.
“In the end, once the resource is there I believe it will establish its own uses and the main thing is that we get on with it,” Ms Gasson said.
Ms Mann said despite all the harrowing experiences with government and bureaucracy, credit had to be paid to Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato and Yarra Ranges councillor Monika Keane.
Cr Keane said the future now looked secure for the hall, thanks largely to the work done by the Save The Hall committee.
She said there was still a strong need for the community to stay involved with the project.
“It always has and always will be a community facility and ‘friends’ are always welcome and needed,” Cr Keane said.
“This has been a wonderful effort particularly by this committee and shows that when community, local government and federal government work together the outcome will always be one which maximises the possibility of success.”