Sailors Gully Community Hall Project 1996

The Lions Club of Eaglehawk had discussed many times the possibility of having our own shed, where we could store our club gear.

The idea seemed remote, as we were a very small club, and any money we had was soon spent on helping the community.

Club gear was spread around a few different places, with the Borough Council shed being the place where we kept larger items, such as our hamburger stall, BBQ, gas bottles, etc.

Meetings were held in a hotel, and club banners, and flag, gong and gavel, had to be returned to storage after each meeting.

On Januaray 10th 1995, at a club meeting, the future of the storage in the council shed was discussed, as with Victorian Council Amalgamations taking place, we were unsure of what would happen with the council shed.

A committee was appointed, and we duly approached Barry Secombe, former Chief Executive Officer of the Borough of Eaglehawk, to see if there was some land where we may be able to build a shed. The idea of a storage shed was our top priority, where could perhaps add a room as finances permitted, to use for our meetings, etc.

Barry presented us with the possibility of the old Sailors Gully Hall. The hall was in a derelict, vandalised state, in urgent need of repairs to make it safe, and because of its state, was a serious fire hazard.

The City of Greater Bendigo representatives were prepared to give the Lions Club a long-term tenancy, in return for the Club repairing and maintaining the hall. The Club had a meetng to discuss this, and felt we would be able to tackle this project. A plan was drawn up and submitted to council, showing the proposed developments and improvements the club would make.

In April 1995, Council advised us that our club had been appointed as Committee of Management of the Sailors Gully Hall. Our Club was granted occupancy for a period of ten years, in return for the building being renovated and repaired to good condition.

The Council also advised us that they could accept no responsibility for expenditure on the building. We were on our own, but......

WE HAD A HOME.!!!

A couple of working bees were held to make the hall safer, the main problem being the hall was a fire hazard, but there was no water connected.. The members of the club, plus their wives, spent a lot of time cleaning up the mess inside. The hall was in a dreadful state, with clothes, rubbish, and food spread all over the kitchen area.

Only those seeing the state of the hall at the time, could possibly appreciate the work involved in cleaning it up. All workers were commended for not giving up there and then.

After the initial clean-up, the club was advised of a sceme whereby long-term unemployed people were being trained, to give them a better oppurtunity of obtaining a job. We were advised to contact Peter Cox, of the Eaglehawk Training Station. This scheme was implemented, and a supervisor, Kootje Schippers, was employed to train the men in various facets of restoring the hall.

The project took six months, and in that time the hall has been re-stumped, re-plastered, sanded and painted. The kitchen has been stripped, new cupboards have been fitted, two new stoves and a fridge have been added, a new sink fitted, and a new back door. A storage area has been built onto the rear, and impressive front doors have been built and fitted, as has a front verandah.

New light fittings have been added, with fluorescents in the kitchen. Ceiling fans have been installed in the main hall, the toilets have been repaired, new glass has been fitted to all windows, and curtains have been purchased and hung. Outside a BBQ has been built, brick paving has been laid, and the area has been landscaped.

The ten workers, all unskilled in the builing trade, have certainly been put to test with this project. But they have done an excellent job, and one we feel sure they are proud of. We hope that the six months they have spent working on the hall have indeed given them the skills which will enable them to obtain employment.

So what were the Lions members doing while all this was taking place? The restoration of the hall has cost the club many thousands of dollars. There has hardly been a day pass when the members of this club were not working in some way on the project. Many donations of goods have helped, and the club acknowledges all sponsors, from the very smallest to the largest.

Without these sponsors, we would be still looking at how we could afford to do the work.

We wanted to take advantage of the fact that we had the workers for six months, but also had to have the funds to supply the materials for them to do the work.

Without these workers, we would have had to rely on our members, most of whom have full-time jobs, to do the work in their "spare time". If you have ever been a member of a Service Club, you will know there is not a lot of "spare time".

So the Lions Club members continued to do their usual fund-raising activities to donate money to their usual causes such as Cancer Research, Sightfirst Projects, Lions Hearing Dogs, and the local charities such as St. Vincent de Paul, the Salvation Army, etc.

The Lions members and their wives also spent countless hours demolishing old houses and selling the materials, cooking hamburgers, cleaning up after poultry auctions cutting and raffling wood, etc etc etc, to raise money for the hall.

As well as this, many of the members have approached local businesses to obtain discounts and/or donations towards the hall project. Members have spent countless hours running errands day after day to ensure that the materials were available when required, and carting bricks from demolition sites for the paving etc.

Apart from the working hours contributed by the Eaglehawk Training Station employees, there have been uncountable hours spent by Lions members as well.

The hall is truly a testimony to the dedication and hard work of these members, who give so freely of their time and money to do what they can for their local community.

The project is an example of what seventeen or so members of a service club can do, given the inspiration and dedication to make it succeed.

The Lions Club of Eaglehawk hope that the local community is pleased with the newly restored hall, and the difference it will make to their neighbourhood.

The Club is certainly proud of its contribution to the community, and hope it will make good use of the hall.

The Fire:

In July 1996 during a wedding party a fire was started by a faulty gas heater. Prompt action by the guests saved the hall, and damage was limited to the dividing wall between the hall and the kitchen; also part of the roof. Damaged was estimated at around $11,000.

As a result of the fire the Greater City of Bendigo Council donated $5,000 towards the repairs. A working bee was held and the repairs completed within two weeks, so that the club could hold its changeover night on time. Many guests at the changeover night brought their own fire extinguishers.

Since that time the roof has been completely replaced by the club, as the hall continues to fund itself, being hired out for all types of functions, and in particular bootscooting.