The small community of Hillside, just west of Bairnsdale, has received more than $8200 from the Federal Government to update its community hall.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester recently visited the Hillside Rosehill hall on Bairnsdale-Dargo Road to see how the improvements would benefit locals.
“Community halls like this one at Hillside are an important focus and gathering place for rural communities,” Mr Chester said.
“We need to look after these halls to ensure they continue to endure and remain useful to the communities in which they stand.”
Two water tanks which service the hall’s kitchen and bathrooms will be replaced, together with a 30-metre section of the boundary fence.
Hillside Rosehill Reserve Association President Carole Pruscino said the works on the former Rosehill State School building would cost almost $16,500.
“As a committee and as a community, we have been working hard for some time now to raise the funds we need for this project,” Mrs Pruscino said.
“We will put up a notice board to help people in our community to stay in touch, plus we’ll also erect a flag pole to use during community events and to mark significant occasions.
“We’ll also install Colorbond cladding to better weatherproof the shelter that is alongside the hall, which will enable greater overall use of this feature of the facility.”
The works at the Hillside Rosehill hall have been funded through the #lovegippsland Stronger Communities Program. It is one of 17 projects across Gippsland to receive a grant in the current funding round.
