Town Talk | Katandra West Hall, family surprises and keeping things short

It was formed to help raise funds around the district.

Usually, it was utilised when the local halls needed maintenance or improvement.

The cast changed over the years — but included Dot Blizzard, on piano, Jon Hendrix (an art teacher who produced drawings similar to Rolf Harris’ act in his early days), my future father-in-law, who was a Scottish tenor (I had yet to meet his son), and my mother, who offered a Shakespearean sonnet followed by something to make the audience laugh.

If my memory serves, Ray Phillips performed from time to time but there were others I can’t recall.

And there were dancers; there was always Joyce Dawber (née Ford) and myself — with other girls from time to time.

I have no idea how all this came about but there was obviously a contact point in Shepp.

Word must have spread, because I remember a bus trip to Finley.

We liked helping the district with fundraising for their halls — but all I really cared about was fun and our small communities offered the best, most appreciative audiences we would ever encounter.

How our world has changed!

Back then, volunteers could work on their halls — with very little money and a lot of enthusiasm.

Today, hundreds of thousands of dollars are required.

Katandra West Community Hall

This hall was listed as an individually significant building of local historic, social and aesthetic significance to the City of Greater Shepparton.

It is described as a “fine vernacular building despite its simplicity; its strength lies in its good proportions and appropriately scaled architectural features”.

What matters even more, is the role it plays in community life.

This building has needed help for a long time, and in 2018 a decision was made with an allocation of more than $600,000 — and some necessary demolition took place in 2019.

Here things started to go wrong.

It became apparent that the minor repairs, that were anticipated, became major.

Significantly more work was required to ensure the safety of the building.

When the building was re-stumped, the work was incomplete and inadequate.

Everything was put on hold.

The hall was wrapped up like a soldier injured in World War I.

The original plan included a kitchenette, amenities, a small stage, three-phase power necessary for heating and cooling, and toilets with a septic system.

The new plan does not include these items, which must be considered essential for the building to be useful.

There is to be no water; surely there’s a building or health regulation involved here?

As things stand, sometime in 2027 a building will emerge, but it will not be a hall.

It will be nice to look at, but how can it possibly be used?

I am told that the budget has been reduced by around $220,000.

If these decisions have been made around money, I am suggesting that a waste of $400,000 could result — if the building can’t be used.

Unless, of course, there is a workable plan — of which I am unaware — to finish the job.

The people affected

In reality, we are all affected if money isn’t spent wisely; if it doesn’t result in a safe, useful building.

And, as we are all aware, use is the best conservation practice.

However, it seems that the people directly affected have lost heart.

Some were told that, if they objected, they wouldn’t get their building in the near future — which sounds like an ultimatum to me.

They have been told that public toilets will be built, a short distance from the back of the hall — but they don’t know when; they are concerned about weather being a problem and about easy access for wheelchairs.

To our councillors

This building should have had attention a couple of decades ago — but we are all aware that none of you were around to make that happen.

We are also aware of the economic situation in our state and the choices you must make.

The belated decision made in 2018 was a good one, and the funds allocated were sufficient.

However, from the objections I have read, and the people to whom I’ve spoken, what has occurred since is bewildering, particularly the lack of water.

What happens if a child is nauseous, if a baby needs a nappy change or someone faints?

Although you are not at fault, you are now responsible and, on behalf of our readers (at least, the ones I’ve met over the past few years), I plead for a sensible outcome.

Otherwise, we’ll need much more than an amateur concert troupe — we’ll need Taylor Swift!

A family means surprise after surprise

Our eldest grandson surprised himself, and me, when he became absorbed by his love of teaching and learning.

He keeps himself fit with time at the gym — especially this year in which he has taken time off teaching, to begin his doctorate.

Then, on a recent Saturday morning, I received an email.

“I am competing in the Asia Pacific Powerlifting Championship. Starts at 10am. Here’s a link.”

What? So, I find myself watching something I could hardly believe — and seeing the rest of the family joining in with good-luck messages.

He acquitted himself well, with ‘clean’ lifts (I think that’s what it is called if you get three white lights).

But then, squatting to lift a bar, which he did easily, we all saw a painful expression on his face.

One of his uncles posted, “I know that expression. He’s done his lower back.”

However, all is now well according to his doctor, and he’s considering the Australian championships in June.

It turned out that Australia had had insufficient entries and he put his hand up.

I never expected to hear him referred to as an athlete — but then I never expected to hear him referred to as an intellectual either.

What’s next?

We like things short

I’m sure you’ve noticed that Australians like to shorten names.

I’m not at all sure that we are unique in this, but we are certainly lazy with our speech.

Thomas becomes Tom or Tommy, Christine becomes Chris or Chrissy, Beverley becomes Bev — you know what I mean.

Even our political parties are abbreviated — a Liberal becomes a Lib, a National becomes a Nat.

I am wondering, what will we do with the new party Trumpet of Patriots? Perhaps Trump would be appropriate?

What is an anion?

When I read the instructions for our bladeless fan, it mentioned that it contained anions.

And because I’m a ‘curious cat’, I looked up the meaning — which is ‘a negatively charged atom’.

So, what was it doing in our fan?

Then, as I put the fan away for the winter, I got ‘curiouser and curiouser’.

So, back to Mr Google.

Why is a negatively charged atom in our fan?

The answers: The air purifier produces anions, which attach to positively charged particles in the air, such as dust, pollen, smoke and other pollutants.

Once the anions attach to these particles, they neutralise their charge, causing them to clump together.

This increases their size, making them heavier.

Apparently, they then fall to the ground and I vacuum them.

However, there appears to be some controversy about their value/safety.

I didn’t read any further because science bores me.

I will check again, though, before next summer.

I like the fan, in case you’re interested — because I needed the cooling less often.

I hope your Easter is just as you want it to be. Let there be peace and love in your home, and in your heart.

May it be easy, my friends.

Marnie

Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au

Letter: Town Talk. The News. P.O. Box 204. Shepparton 3631.

Phone: Text or call 0409 317 187