“Thank goodness we’re there!”
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Those were the words of the Murrumbateman Progress Association’s (MPA) president, Bob Evans at the completion of the new, all-weather roof, covering the concrete stage at the village’s Recreation Grounds.
This has been a three-year project for the association and cost approximately $40,000. The MPA initially funded the construction of the roof, however, this week, federal member for Eden-Monaro, Mike Kelly announced the association had received a Stronger Communities Programme grant of $10,000.
"The progress association was really pleased to receive the funding," the association's Mr Evans said.
The roof was built by Rapley Constructions, a Murrumbateman company, and will protect performers on the stage from rain, hail or sunshine. Musicians at the past two Murrumbateman Village Markets have already benefited from the shelter.
The roof is made of tin, however, it has been lined to protect the acoustics on the stage, Yass Valley councillor Mike Reid said, as a private citizen.
Cr Reid helped the association to secure the funding for the roof and drove the installation of the concrete stage in June 2016. Prior to then, musicians who played at the markets, including Cr Reid, sat at the edge of the shed at the Recreation Grounds.
Cr Reid and two other musicians formed a group under the MPA and secured funding for the stage from council ($5k), the NSW government ($10k) and Southern Phone (just over $8k), Cr Reid said.
The association's Mr Evans said he envisaged the upgraded stage would attract more users. Cr Reid said he had already been approached by performers to use the stage for light and sound shows.
The stage and its new roof will also be used every fortnight at the markets, by the Community Christmas Carols, the Youth Council for movie nights and the Murrumbateman Field Days, Cr Reid said.
The association is now looking at installing electrics for lighting and speakers on the stage. Currently, there is no lighting for the stage and an event such as the Christmas Carols borrows lights from the Murrumbateman Rural Fire Brigade.
