The entrance and toilet facilities at Meroo Public Hall will be upgraded thanks to funding from the NSW Government’s Crown Reserve Improvement Fund.
Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders recently visited the village, located to the south of Mudgee, to announce a grant of $36,680 had been awarded the Trust that looks after the facility.
“Facilities such as the Meroo Public Hall are not only utilised by locals but also tourists who may be making their way through some of the smaller locations in the region,” Mr Saunders said.
“Meroo has such a rich history and, as is the case with all of these old halls, they have played a significant role in the community over many years.
“Meroo Hall hosts a lot of events such as bingo nights, movie nights, Christmas parties and a Snow Ball for the community so it’s a real hub.
“The people involved in looking after these facilities do so on a voluntary basis and it is important that when they seek a bit of help to maintain them, we find ways to assist.”
Meroo Hall Trust treasurer Sherry Catt said the funding was needed to bring the facility up to modern standards.
“We would have been years away from raising the funds needed to do this work, so we were excited when we found out our application had been successful,” she said.
“Last year we got funding to upgrade the kitchen area, and the entrance and toilets were next on our list.
“We haven’t had any events for the past year due to COVID but with restrictions easing and some positivity after the rain we’re looking to get back into the swing of things this year.”