Presidential passing-out parade
19 November 2012
Alastair Crombie was thanked by former committee members for 'services rendered', at an informal gathering at The Cottage on Sunday. Tony Morris expressed thanks for the work that Alastair has done as President over the last five years, noting that there had been some challenging issues.
Alastair reflected with some satisfaction on some of the things that had been achieved - beginning with the establishment of this community website with it's 'geographic domain name'.(The Hall and district business directory gets the most hits).
The closing of the school in 2006 led to a time when the Association was both fighting for the school to be reopened, and at the same time negotiating with government about investment in community facilities to 'compensate' us for the loss. After extensive community consultation the government accepted the advice of its consultants 'that the whole site, buildings and the surrounding land is retained for community use'.
The renovation of the pavilion, the Cottage and the school tennis court, and a home for the Mens Shed were good outcomes of the negotiations, and there is a clear commitment from government to preserve the school site for community facilities.
The Friends of the School Museum and the Mens Shed are both going from strength to strength, and the Association now has these, and two more 'special interest groups' affiliated - the Hall and District Collectors Club, and the Wallaroo and Spring range Residents Group.
Other achievements of the Association over the past few years include:
- acting as a community watchdog in relation to planning and development issues
- establishment of the annual Twilight Concert with the Hall
Village Brass Band
- naming of the Hall Lanes and erection of the heritage interpretive signs
- establishment of the Broadband for Seniors project
- the Hall School Centenary in 2011
Alastair is now project coordinator for the 'Friends' October 2013 Centenary exhibition on 'Canberra's early schools and teachers', and enjoying having fewer meetings to organise and attend.
[photo thanks to Bob Richardson]