The value of war memorial and community halls in Australia can never be under-estimated.
They have seen young men and women march off to war, and been there for those who return.
They have hosted bush dances and debutante balls, bridge clubs and badminton contests. In doing so they have helped raise funds for all manner of groups and organisations.
The community halls are part of the glue that holds Australia together. Especially in the smaller towns where they rely on a sturdy band of volunteers to benefit the wider community.
Buderim War Memorial Hall has been all of this … and more.
A weekend celebration to commemorate 100 years as a community hub saw an historical reenactment of the opening in 1924 adjoining the School of Arts Hall.
The first Buderim School of Arts Hall was opened on 16 November, 1888, built of local timber by the citizens and had many uses local meeting place, church services and dances.
By the early 1920s the town was growing as a farming and tourism centre, and a larger hall was needed.
Buderim’s new School of Arts was duly opened by Mr W Bertram MLA, Speaker of State Parliament, acting on behalf of the Premier.
The re-enactment as part of the 100-year celebrations saw Kennedy Fox as Mr Warren, State Member for Murrumburra, and James Kluck as Mr Bertram, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly,
and Robert Grant as chair of the organising committee in 1924.
The 100-year celebrations highlighted the number of groups and associations connected to the hall today.
Buderim War Memorial Community Association president Errol Richardson said the celebrations were very special.
“They commemorate the establishment of the memorial to those who served and died to defend our values and way of life, as well as the 100 years of community events and
activities held since it was built.
“The hall is at the heart of our community spirit,” Mr Richardson said. “We are so pleased that 100 years ago the hall was constructed and the BWMCA formed as a living memorial for all those
who made our way of life possible.”
BWMCA honorary life member John McMahon took over as chair of the committee in 1974 and served for 46 years.
He said a community was only as good as the people in it and in the 1970s-1990s they were absolutely the best.
“You are sitting in what is left of the original hall because in the big renovation of 1989 from the stage forward is new and everything from the back wall through the foyer is new
The hall originally faced out to the main street until 1966 when the brick extension was added and the hall moved to be parallel to Church Street.
One of the wonders of the hall is the ceiling with only two boards that do not run the whole length.
There were inside walls running both sides, with the veranda on the eastern side used as a supper room.
Jim Hennell was one of those volunteers who worked on it at the time.
Over a cup of tea and scone with cream and jam he told me they took out the wall of the supper room so that the main area could be extended.
The veranda had no lining on the ceiling so in the spirit of things they went down King Street and felled some pine trees then took the timber to the sawmill where the post office now stands. They dressed the timber and it was brought back to hall where the tradesmen with the volunteers installed it in an afternoon.
It was all done within about 400m each way of the hall and with volunteers, putting a further emphasis on local.
The program for the weekend of celebrations included a variety showcase concert on the Friday night, A Centenary Celebration – a line-up of choirs, theatre and live music. Performances included the Sunshine Statesmen Choir, Buderim Male Choir, Oriana Choir, acoustic duo 13 Ticks, and the Hot Ginger Chorus as Buderim Youth Theatre (BYTES).
Saturday morning saw a vintage car procession through Buderim’s main streets, the launch of the Living Memorial Fundraising, history and photographic displays, showcase of BWMCA affiliated groups, Open house in the library and the billiards and snooker rooms.
A Spirit of Buderim art display was held at the Buderim Craft Cottage.
A Supper Dance on Saturday night provided a journey of music and dance from 1924 to 2024 featuring the Moreton Bay Big Band and Merrymakers Dance Club.
“The spirit of the community at Buderim makes your hair stand on end,” Errol Richardson said.
“It’s a centre for cultural and community activities … that’s been the theme all the way through.
“A living memorial, that’s the way we refer to it.”
Buderim has proven over many years to be a giving community and the hall is the centre of it, but it’s also a living entity.
Through the BWMCA it gives information and service generally promoting the idea of the spirit of community in Buderim.
Not so different to the vision held by residence when they gathered the funds to construct the first school of hearts in 1888 and then the new hall in 1924.
