Transforming The Mainly Music Venue - Community Church Hall
MEDIA RELEASE
4 March 2024
Transforming the mainly music venue - Community Church Hall of Orroroo:
Another successful Community Grant coordinated by the District Council of Orroroo Carrieton!
In the heart of rural South Australia, the community of Orroroo Carrieton, will benefit from the recent success of the District Council of Orroroo Carrieton securing a $22,000 grant from the FRRR Small Networks Grant Application, this marks another incremental moment in the community's journey towards improving inclusivity, accessibility, and community resilience through our own efforts.
The Mayor of Orroroo Carrieton Grant Chapman said “This project is another great example of our council and community being pro-active to counteract the lack of access to Childcare our district and rural areas of South Australia are dealing with”.
The grant, and collaborative spirit of the Orroroo community, will create improvements at the Orroroo Community Church Hall (OCCH), already a cherished cornerstone of local church events, mainly music and other activities. This project is another step on the mission to elevate the OCCH to meet the rigorous standards of Family Day Care in Venue accreditation, while simultaneously enhancing its current use.
This endeavour traces back to May 2023 when representatives from the Family Day Care Unit were invited to Orroroo. Their objective? To assess the OCCH and delineate the requisite enhancements needed to align with Family Day Care standards.
CEO of the District Council of Orroroo Carrieton said “We invited the Family Day Care unit to Orroroo to inspect the hall and provide guidance, we are really pleased with the support we received, and it helped us frame up the project”.
Central to the project are a series of priority improvements, to maximize the impact of the grant funds. Foremost among these is the creation of a secure outdoor area, designed to offer a safe and stimulating environment for children and allow the constant supervision of Family Day Care providers. Through the installation of a double sliding door and window in the current blank back wall, coupled with the improvements of the external fencing, the OCCH will become an area for exploration and play.
In tandem with enhancements, the project will ensure greater accessibility for all members of the community. Ramp access to the building will be implemented rather than the steep side steps, alongside measures to conceal external air conditioning units.
Beyond the confines of financial support, the Council and the OCCH will collaborate with community volunteers to realise the project's broader aspirations, this will include clearing and levelling of the backyard, alongside the planning of the outdoor area, ultimately creating a play space.
Joy Nutt, a local Orroroo Teacher, farmer and keen member of the Orroroo Community Church and mainly music commented “Each week we see this space used for the benefit of local children and their family/carers, through music, regular connections and play. We are thrilled to hear of the successful grant application which will enable this space to be used to its best potential, for the further flourishing of our Orroroo community”.
Indeed, it is this spirit of collective action that infuses the project with its true significance. Through the concerted efforts of the Orroroo community, the OCCH will transcend its role as a mere venue, blossoming into a multifaceted hub of activity and connection. From the cherished traditions of mainly music sessions to the promise of future childcare services, the OCCH embodies the ethos of communal resilience and adaptability.
Through the successful realisation of the FRRR Small Networks Grant Application, the Orroroo Community Church Hall will become a more multipurpose space for community benefit. This project is supported by FRRR, through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.
Any enquiries can be directed to the CEO DCOC.
