Community
19 March, 2025
Renovations completed
TIMBOON District Hall is sporting brand new facilities thanks to a generous donation from Timboon Opportunity Shop (TOPS), allowing the committee to follow through with much-needed renovations.
The men’s toilets have been remodelled, making space for a new storage room with the building of an additional wall to cut down on the excess space in the original bathroom.
Chairperson Keith Whitford said the remodelling process, was not without complications despite being a success.
“What we’ve done is ripped out the inside of the bathroom and found underneath that borer ants had been in the floors,” he said.
“We’ve had to replace the whole floor, which added more costs to the job.
“We’ve removed a whopping big urinal from the back and cut the room in half to make a store room at the other end.”
Secretary and treasurer Trish Whitford said the renovations have been “long awaited” but, thanks to TOPS, the committee was able get the renovations happening.
“We’ve been waiting for it for years and years,” she said.
“I want to highlight what TOPS have done for us – they do an amazing job, and without their donation of $10,000 this wouldn’t have happened.
“We wouldn’t have been able to afford it. It’s a big help.
“We couldn’t have gotten it done otherwise.”
Mrs Whitford said she extended special thanks to Monica Norman, a TOPS volunteer who encouraged her to pursue asking for the donation.
“She really encouraged me, because we’ve had a grant from TOPS before when they gave us a generator for the fires,” she said.
“They bought us a generator, since we were declared Timboon’s designated Place of Last Resort in case of a bushfire.
“I was hesitant to ask for more money but Monica kept encouraging me to do that.
“They were generous enough to give another $10,000 which has enabled us to do this renovation.”
The total cost of the renovation was approximately $53,000.
Corangamite Shire Council contributed approximately $23,000, then after the TOPS donation, the Timboon District Hall committee were able to contribute the rest.
Mrs Whitford thanked the shire and committee management, which have enabled the hall to remain in such good condition.
“We do very well through the shire, and we also do well by managing the money the shire give us,” she said.
“We get a maintenance grant at the end of each financial year.
“We have to manage that money and then if there’s anything left over, we do the improvements that we can.
The hall is a well-used community asset, one Mr Whitford said people don’t often realise is used so frequently.
“On a Monday and Tuesday nights we’ve got ballet,” he said.
“Wednesday and Friday nights we’ve got karate.
“Creative Memories are in here as well on Thursdays.”
Mrs Whitford said when a venue was used so regularly, it’s necessary to keep the facilities up to date.
“Various groups come and go,” she said.
“I do the fundraising here every Friday morning for the hall with our line dancing.
“The toilets were in such a bad state, so the health benefits of the renovation are significant.”
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