Aggie Cutting the Ribbon
And some more of Bruce’s pictures here if you copy and paste the following into your browser’s address bar: https://picasaweb.google.com/106982575975464061382/HallReopening24032012
And President Mark’s words on the occasion:
Good afternoon I am Mark Shubert, current president of Numeralla District Activities Incorporated. The association is the umbrella community organisation in this district and all residents and landowners are regarded as members. The executive committee is elected annually and forms sub-committees that organise events like the annual folk festival and Mud Marlin carp fishing competition. Being an incorporated not for profit organisation, the association applies for and administers grants for community projects like the hall renovations, tennis club court restoration etc.
The original people here before the arrival of European settlers, called this valley Umeralla, often translated as “where the waters meet”. They mostly don’t return now, but their spirits are felt by some, so on their behalf, welcome to their country.
On behalf of the Numeralla district community, I would like to welcome everyone including Jenny Lawlis, one of our local councillors, andI must make a special welcome to Steve Whan, who assisted us in our successful grant application that made improvements to our hall possible.
I don’t know how many residents have found this to be the “Valley of Plenty”, but I do know of many who have raised their families here during the bad times and the good. Many of the details of their histories are forgotten, but their stewardship of the land has created our current environment. Times and technologies have changed, but many of the principles that guide our actions have remained.
Written history tends to record the individuals most associated with dramatic events and changes to our society. Less is recorded about the daily lives of the ordinary people who actually make the changes and events occur by their participation. So it was when 10% of this district’s population went away to fight in the First World War, then known as the “Great War”, funds for a hall to commemorate the efforts and sacrifices of the people of our district were raised by the community. The land for the hall was given to the community by the NSW Government.
In 1919, the community formed a committee of 30 people who commissioned and assisted local builder Ted Thomas to build this one large room which was the original “Diggers Pioneer Memorial Hall”. It was made from local timber and was unlined and seating consisted of wooden benches attached to the walls. Food and refreshments for the opening ceremony were prepared in a temporary structure outside.
The hall was officially opened by Councillor Adam Agnew on Wednesday 3rd May 1922. The opening was preceded by a sports day at the sports ground and was followed by a supper and dance that went on all night.
From the time of its construction the hall was frequently used for meetings, balls, dances and card nights. Even after the First World War, motorised transport was scarce, the roads were very rough with many gates and apart from the bridge across the Numeralla River, the rest of the crossings were fords or when the water was high, punts were used. It took a lot longer to get to Cooma than it does now, particularly from Peak View or Badja or Countegany, Tuross or Kybeyan. So a stopping point at Numeralla was essential.
In 1927 the supper room was added with a fireplace made from locally manufactured concrete blocks that provided hot water and some heating for the building. Cooking was done on a wood fuel stove in a little room attached to the supper room, until a Kitchen replaced it. The large crockery cabinet in the kitchen was donated by the community in 1947 as a memorial to Mrs Clarrie Ross, the community midwife for many years. Numeralla was connected to the electricity grid in 1958.
Since the first Folk Festival in 1974, some of the proceeds each year have gone towards making the hall what it is today, the remainder being divided amongst the community groups that provide the volunteers who make the festival and other events possible.
The community has continued to raise funds for extensions to the hall, including the kitchen, verandah, storeroom and barbeque room. Volunteers have worked on lining the hall, painting, concreting and providing equipment.
Over the decades the hall and the events in it have been organised by many community minded volunteers. Thank you to Del Roach and Ken Dane, to name only two, and all of those who have contributed much in recent years.
To remember the contribution and sacrifice made by the Numeralla district community in two World Wars, an honours Roll was unveiled by the president of Cooma RSL on 6th October 1996.
In the past couple of years, thanks to local contractors and volunteers, with the aid of the NSW Country halls Program, the Federal Stimulus Program and our own fundraising effort, the hall has been totally re-roofed, all insulated, repainted, floors refurbished and improvements made to the bar and kitchen.
Agnes Murphy was born in 1916 at Carrie Ross’s (the midwife). Her parents were Jim and Violet Smith, who lived at Rose Valley. When she was still young they moved to Murphy’s Creek at Peak View. Her Grandparents Joe and Mary Smith lived at Cowra Creek, then at Boggy Plain. .From 1933 -36, Agnes worked at “Glenfergus”. When she married Martin Murphy they moved to his parents place at “Rockview” and in 1944 bought “Ethylene”. Agnes remembers her wedding reception here in this hall, in 1937. That was 75 years ago, only 15 years after the official opening of the hall.
The community invites Mrs Agnes Murphy to declare the Numeralla Diggers Memorial Hall re-opened, and to unveil the plaque.
Thank you all for attending and please enjoy the barbeque and following entertainment. The children of the Numeralla School are about to place a time capsule, so I introduce to you Lloyd Smith, who is organising that event.
