THE future is bright for the 1st Baranduda Scouts — they bought their hall from Wodonga Council on Saturday for the token sum of $1.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The council did the deal for the Baranduda Memorial Hall midway through last year, but it wasn’t until the weekend that it handed over the land, title and the building.
Group leader for 15 years Brendan Greaves said the purchase of the 69-year-old building provided several challenges.
“There had been uncertainty for four years, but it came to a head in the past 18 months and we had to put forward proposals,” Mr Greaves said.
“We’ve had an issue with white ants and the building needs a revamp. That’s our priority.
“We aim to put in a kitchen, then a toilet block, which we hope to fund through grants and raising money.”
The hall is home to 65 scouts and cubs, nine leaders and community groups.
Victorian Scouts chief commissioner Brendan Watson, who attended the handover, said it was an “amazing generous gift”.
“Regional communities need healthy activities that can develop into an informal education setting where young people can socialise,” Mr Watson said.
“The hall has become an education setting. It will train and educate the leaders of this community and that’s really critical for all communities.”
Wodonga mayor Rodney Wangman handed over the hall.
He said keeping the old building would ensure its history and stories weren’t lost.
“The council has definitely made the right choice and everyone’s smiles is evidence of that,” he said.
Baranduda Scout leader Erwin Bejsta, who worked on the deal with the council, said it was good to see the “hard yards” pay off.
“This is one of the largest scout halls in the state,” Mr Bejsta said.
“The benefits of staying in this old building rather than moving to a new one is that it allows the children’s creativity to flow.
“They can draw with chalk on the floor here if they want to, but you wouldn’t dare do that in a new building.”