By Jolene Ogle
Fifty passionate locals met at the Cooroy Library on Wednesday night (4 January) determined to re-build and re-open the Cooroy Memorial Hall.
The group voted to become an incorporated association to be known as the Cooroy Memorial Hall Association Inc and voted for a nine-person management committee that will begin consultations with Council on re-opening the closed memorial hall.
The executive committee is made up of Paul Kluck as president, former Mayoral candidate Ray Kelly as vice-president, Louise Jorgenson will be the secretary and Carol Johnston will be the treasurer.
Phil McGrath will head to building sub-committee, Lyn Bayfield will lead the business operations, Amy Dwyer will work on heritage protection and grant applications, Pamela Sweetapple will be in charge of all things legal and Yvonne Pattinson makes the ninth member of the board.
The Association will now need to apply for their incorporated status, but the mood at the one-hour meeting was one of hope and determination.
Newly-elected president Mr Kluck said the group of passionate locals had been previously “hamstrung”, but were now excited to move forward as an incorporated body.
“Going forward we’re very excited to work with Council,” he said. “Now Council has the DOGIT and insurance (as the new trustees of the hall), we feel very happy to work with them and the community can come now and get the hall open as soon as possible.”
Mr Kluck said he believes the Association’s Board offered a great selection of skilled professionals who can now help form a plan to take to Council and he is sure the group will be supported by an army of volunteers who share their vision.
Mr Kluck said the Association wants to re-build and re-open the hall and are not interested in any other options for the hall. He said fears Council wanted to tear down the hall and construct a memorial park were unfounded and a waste of concern as the option was only put forward by Council staff doing their jobs by considering all options.
The group will now apply for their incorporated status. Following approval, the group will call for members to join and will release further information through the media for anyone interested in joining the Cooroy Memorial Hall Association Inc.
