Architect Ninotschka Titchkosky and Narbethong Hall Committee members Katherine Fraser, David Fraser and Jennifer Wood were joined by an army of diggers to get the Narbethong Hall project on its way. 59932
By Kath Gannaway
THERE were almost as many shovels as there were people in Narbethong on Friday for the turning of the first sod of the Narbethong Community Hall rebuilding project.
It’s hard to say which hole was officially the first turned, but the patchwork of potholes was a fitting reflection of the contribution made by hundreds of people to rebuild not just a hall, but a landmark for Narbethong.
Representatives of the majority of the more than 20 organisations that were instrumental in getting the project to construction stage attended the event.
They include the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority (VBRRA), Emergency Architects Australia, McDonald’s, architects ARG and BVN, Boral, Grocon, consulting engineers ARUP, the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, Alexandra builder Steve Hedger, and many more.
A $800,000 grant from the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund, $520,000 from McDonald’s and an insurance pay-out will provide the major funding for the $1.8 million project.
VBRRA chairman Ian Dicker said the start of work on the hall, which he said had been identified as a priority by the community, was a significant milestone for the community.
“The hall has been designed, in close consultation with the Narbethong community, to create an open, inclusive community place that reflects the beauty of the surrounding natural environment,” Mr Dicker said.
Jennifer Wood from the Narbethong Public Hall Committee told the large crowd at the event that the decision go it alone to rebuild the hall was made when it became clear in the weeks and months after Black Saturday that government authorities, while sympathetic, were not able to help.
“I Googled ‘pro bono architects’, not even knowing if there was such a thing and there it was,” she said and Emergency Architects Australia came up in her search return.
It was the start of a long journey for the hall committee, and Ms Wood said there is a long way to go yet.
Ninotschka Titchkosky of BVN Architects which came up with the revolutionary design, spoke with emotion of her company’s involvement. She said it was a project which made staff proud to be architects.
“Often you are working on highly commercial projects and this project embodies amazing spirit. It is really exciting to be part of it,” she said.
“We are really proud that we have been able to create something for you, the Narbethong community, that we hope will become a really beautiful backdrop to your lives,” she said.
Ms Wood said it was hoped there would be an official opening in the spring.
