The cramped, unfunctional kitchenette has been transformed into a spacious and modern kitchen, recently completed with a commercial dishwasher.
Tablelands Community Centre chairperson Fiona Steel said the completion of the long-awaited community project, running across two committees, has future-proofed the centre to hire for meetings and events.
“It means that we now have a functioning building that we can be fully confident we can hire out,” Ms Steel said.
“It wasn’t a kitchen before the renovation; it was a tiny space that had a kitchen sink. Having water to the building was an ongoing problem.
“The old fridge was condemned, and the gas stove didn’t work; we had a kettle but had to make sure we had bottled water available to fill it.”
The commercial dishwasher ($4007), funded via Strathbogie Shire Council’s innovative 2021/22 Pitch My Project initiative, was the final appliance on the renovating committee’s wish list after the renovation was completed.
Council had previously allocated $31,117 towards the renovation, and the project was also supported through community donations of services and items, including kitchen design plans, oven, sink, dining table and chairs; and past and present committees’ fundraising efforts for the rangehood, refrigerator and installation costs – a total spend of $4,205.70 by Tablelands Community Centre Inc.
With the original renovation budget and fundraisers not including the cost of a commercial dishwasher, Ms Steel made a successful submission to the Pitch My Project initiative before Council’s 2021/22 Draft Budget.
The old kitchenette was removed in February 2021, but the renovation was interrupted by COVID-19 lockdowns and supply/transport delays, with the final appliances (rangehood and dishwasher) installed in October.
“We are really pleased. With a commercial dishwasher we can clean dishes to COVID-19 health standards in a two-minute wash cycle,” Ms Steel said.
“It also has environmental benefits because we can move away from using disposable utensils and plates.”
Ms Steel said reliable plumbing and hot water in the new kitchen, also meant the building’s four rooms could all be easily cleaned in line with the facility’s COVIDSafe plan.
The weatherboard Tablelands Community Centre is at the former Ruffy Primary School, which closed in 2005. Its four rooms include: an office leased by the local Landcare group; an office which doubles as a playgroup room; a double room for community meetings and gatherings; and the new kitchen.
Outside, a community project is under way to establish a pottery studio in the former school’s shelter shed.
“Our next community project is to build outdoor seating which will be lined with hand-made pottery tiles,” Ms Steel said.
Ruffy Recreation Reserve
Meanwhile, Ruffy Recreation Reserve committee is excited a building extension at its facility came to fruition last month (January 2022) .
The group was successful in its 2021 Pitch My Project submission for $10,000 to build a north-facing verandah to improve and protect the ageing building, but COVID-19 delayed the project starting until January 19.
“We’re excited the extension is now finished,” Ruffy Recreation Reserve president Pam Sprunt said.
“This improvement has extended the shelter to enable visitors to access conveniences.”
Ms Sprunt said the north-facing verandah was needed to protect the building’s wooden wall panels, windows, kitchen door and porous brickwork and help with ongoing maintenance costs.
“Shelter over the kitchen door will allow kitchen workers (mostly volunteers) to safely and more easily navigate access to the kitchen.”
The Recreation Reserve is used for an annual community cricket match, the Ruffy Gymkhana, is home to an adult horse-riding club, is a fire refuge, and is hired by other groups and visitors for events.
Pitch My Project
