Adec Preview Generated PDF File - The Sydney eScholarship ...

5.7 Milparinka Public Hall
As suggested in theintroductory comments to this chapter, Milparinka
appears to have had great difficulty in generating support for any
community-based project.
The people of Tibooburra, arch rivals of the community at Milparinka,
opened a public hall just before Christmas 1894, and seventeen months
later a short item appeared in the Sturt Recorder:
'A Public Hall for Milparinka
'One of the greatest social requirements of the town is a public hall. It is
estimated that a building suitable for the purpose could be erected for
about five hundred pounds. But where is the money to come from?
'We may remind those handicraftsmen who may look favourable upon our
suggestion to give their labour in payment for shares that about five
hundred pounds will shortly be spent in the erection of a cottage hospital,
so that they will then have an opportunity of recouping themselves in cash
for the outlay of their keep while working at the pUblic hall, and we think
that they would have no reason to regret having taken part in assisting so
good an object' (Sturt Recorder, 15 May 1896:2).
No further mention of a hall was made until 11 December 1896. In that
edition publicity was given to 'a sale of plain and fancy work' which would
be held on Friday 1 January 1897 in aid of the building fund. A later notice
advised that the sale would commence at four o'clock in the afternoon on
New Year's Eve 'in Mr. Bigmore's new building', to be followed by a dance
in the evening. Admission to the dance was to be two shillings, including
refreshments.
The dance and sale of work realised £16/4/9, with goods valued at another
five pounds remaining on hand at the end of the evening. The contributions
of local station owners, police officers, town traders and the postmaster
were acknowledged by the newspaper report. One of the storekeepers
from Tibooburra also made a contribution in 'goods and refreshments', and
the Rev. E.C.Ganly, the first 'resident clergyman to do duty in the extreme
north-west of New South Wales', was present (Sturt Recorder, 19 March,
1897:3).
The newspaper report stated another fund-raising dance would be held in
May, but before then a dance-social' in 'Bamess' newly furnished building'
was announced - 'double tickets five shillings, single gent three shillings
and sixpence, extra lady one shilling and sixpence' (Sturt Recorder,30 April
1897:3). This function scheduled to follow the Milparinka Athletic Club
meeting which took place one day before, on May 24.