Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall met with the trustees of the Ben Lomond War Memorial Hall recently to announce the good news. Pictured from left are John Every, Dorothy Every, Adam Marshall, Don Stride, Beth White, Michael Mulligan, Sarah Harding and Phil William.
BEN Lomond’s iconic War Memorial Hall Trust will soon undergo a major refurbishment courtesy of a $66,450 grant from the NSW Government’s Public Reserve Management Fund, according to Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall.
Mr Marshall delivered the good news to the Trustees of the hall recently and said they could now go ahead with a safety and mobility upgrade of the historic building – constructing a new entrance and access ramp and relocating the existing amenities block to a more suitable location.
“I visited Ben Lomond and met with the community in November last year and the Trustees showed me their plans to improve the hall’s facilities and discussed funding options,” Mr Marshall said.
“The hall is a well-used building and a focal point for the community. It hosts a wide variety of community events, including a number of tourist buses which come up to Ben Lomond to not only enjoy the view but the delicious lunch the locals prepare for them.
“Access to the hall is currently difficult as the main entrance is quite narrow, close to the road and difficult for those with mobility issues to negotiate.
“I’m delighted that together we have been able secure this funding to address these issues. It’s very gratifying to see members of a small community so committed to maintaining and upgrading their lovely old hall.”
Ben Lomond War Memorial Hall Trustee Dorothy Every said the members were delighted with the news and very grateful for Mr Marshall’s support.
“This upgrade is necessary if we want to continue providing lunches for the touring groups,” Mrs Every said. “Currently the main entrance is a real safety risk due to the narrow doors and its close proximity to the main road.
“We need to have a building that meets current standards so this is just great news and we’re very keen now to get on with it.
“We’d like to thank Adam for his help, it is very much appreciated and we hope we can get him back to inspect the final product.”