Funds sought to complete Memorial Hall modernisation

April 13th, 2012
[by David Armstrong]

Work continues to bring Motueka's Memorial Hall up to modern standards, thanks to the voluntary organisation and fund-raising efforts of the hall's champion, Mark Wentworth.

Costing of the modernisation project to date exceed $50,000, and with a large chunk of this already raised from private donors and businesses, Mark has approached the Motueka Community Board with a request for $10,000 - $12,000 from the board's surplus to help complete the work.

In a letter to the board, tabled at Tuesday's meeting, Mark said he learnt that the board had funds left over from their allocation for the 2011/2012 financial year and asked if some of it could go to help finish off the project.

"I see the rates would only go down by $2.00 overall per ratepayer if the community (board) gave the money back to council," he said. He argued that rather than drop the rates by this amount, the surplus should go to completing this "asset of the community".

This project shows how private individuals with a passion can make a difference and get things done in our community without relying purely on council and government money and employees to make it happen.

Nearly two years ago Mark, who also runs the State Cinema in the Recreation Centre, took it upon himself to organise local private and TDC funding to refurbish Memorial Hall to modern standards. Initial work involved painting and lining of the concrete walls, carpet for acoustic purposes on the concrete walls and in the foyer, and new fireproof curtains to cover the windows.

This work was done well within an initial budget of $35,000, which allowed Mark to use leftover money plus further funding to do more work, including making the hall stage safe. New funds were raised from TDC, Sir Patrick Goodman and Peter Talley, and other support came from ITM, Fred Cassin, Guthrie Bowron and Nelson Pine by way of goods and services, reduced labour costs, and supplies at cost.

The new work will mean that the hall will be brought up to fire standards with regard to staging material. It will include new metal lighting bars; sealed, covered and secure lighting fixtures along with the safety wires, pulleys and locking mechanisms; a planned new main curtain, black curtains onstage and black ceiling tabs; all new sight lines and proper secure stage rigging as is now in the Nelson Theatre Royal.

Other work required will need further funding to make the job complete, including painting, electrical, building, and engineering work, and cutting some rot out of the stage areas.

Mark said that for the past 60 years the old wooden rigging has rotted. Ropes were sash cords, and pulleys were rusted and not properly mounted. The stage had become unsafe for the many school and local users, along with other groups who had put their own gear into place in the hope it would stay put for years to come.

He said the stage has been a nightmare to work with over the years, and is very unsafe. Items fell down from time to time during rehearsals when people added or moved props because there was no proper rigging and security of pulleys and ropes.

Mark's expertise means that he is usually the local person that many of the users of the hall approach to provide lighting and sound for their events. Parklands School uses the hall regularly, and there are several plays and other music groups now using the hall since the acoustics were fixed in 2010.

"Recently the BBC conductor was here on tour and he said the Memorial Hall facilities are among the best he has seen in a country location," Mark said.

"He was interested in the work which had been done in regards to making the hall acoustics better. He left here with many photos and ideas of how community halls could be redone cheaply back in the UK."

The community board accepted chairman David Ogilvie's suggestion that, with three months before the financial year ends, it may be premature to guarantee the amount of money Mark is seeking. He suggested that Mark be asked to apply at the June or July meeting.

"Any decision would depend on whether the council retains the board's targeted rate at the current $14.46," David said. "A recommendation will be brought forward to the June 2012 meeting, when details of the Board's projected surplus and the 2012/2013 Community Board rate will be known."

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