I would like the Grenfell Community to realise how close they are to losing the Scout/Guide hall.

It seems that even though the Guide Leaders, the Guide Support Group and Guide parents do not want the hall to be sold TAFE may have its way and acquire the hall and Procter Park. 

The hall belongs to both Scouts and Guides, but the deed was drawn up in Scouts name only, for convenience.

This means that Scouts NSW has the final say on the sale of the hall.

In the end if Scouts want to sell they will.

May I state emphatically here, that I have nothing against TAFE building a new facility.

However, there are other alternate sites that are just as suitable as the Scout/Guide hall site.

Both Procter Park and the land the hall is built on were donated by a member of our community.

The hall was built by money raised by the community.

And the community has continued to contribute to maintaining the hall.

Yes, the hall needs maintenance, but a few grants would quickly fix those problems.

Although the hall is not a heritage building it contains a lot of history.

Lady Baden Powell while in Australia, came to Grenfell to lay the foundation stone in October 1947.

I don’t think there are many existing Scout and Guide halls in NSW that can claim that honour.

Only last year the guides celebrated the hall’s 70th birthday.

If our community doesn’t stand together to make it very clear to TAFE, the Weddin Shire Council, Scouts NSW and Girl Guides NSW & ACT that we, as a community, don’t want the hall sold, then we could lose it. If the hall is sold there is a very high probability that Guides in Grenfell will fold.

At this stage it is questionable that Scouts and Guides will even receive enough money to build another hall. It will most certainly be a much smaller hall.

At the moment both organisations have their own space.

This may not be possible with a new hall.

The two sites suggested by the Weddin Shire Council for a new building are not suitable for Guides being on the outskirts of town.

A hall on either of these sites is not close to schools, the swimming pool, library or main street. Many of the Guides walk to the hall after school.

Guides also use the pool and library as part of their programme. 

I am not able to comment on what the Grenfell Scouts want.

But if the Scout/Guide hall is sold Grenfell will battle to keep Guides going.

Save our hall and save Guides in Grenfell.

These girls are the community’s future volunteers and leaders. If you care, please act now.

Yours sincerely,

Oriel Draffin

Past Girl Guide District Manager and concerned community member

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Letters of support for Grenfell Girl Guides can be forwarded to:

*The Grenfell Record

41 Main Street

GRENFELL 2810.

E: ngaire.soley@fairfaxmedia.com.au

*The Hon John

Barilaro MP

213 Crawford Street

Queanbeyan NSW 2620

E: monaro@parliament.nsw.gov.au

*The Hon Pru

Goward MP

167-169 Auburn Street

GOULBURN NSW 2580

E: office@goward.minister.nsw.gov.au

*The Hon Michael

McCormack MP

Deputy Prime Minister

Member for Riverina

Suite 2 11-15 Fitzmaurice Street

WAGGA WAGGA NSW 2650

E: michael.mccormack.mp@aph.gov.au

*Steph Cooke MP

140 Boorowa Street

YOUNG NSW 2594

E: cootamundra@parliament.nsw.gov.au

*The Hon Gladys

Berijiklian

State Premier

280 Willoughby Road

NAREMBURN NSW 2065

Online at: www.nsw.gov.au/contact-us/contact-the-premier/

*The Hon Tanya

Davies MP

Minister for Women

GPO Box 5341

SYDNEY NSW 2001

Online at: www.nsw.gov.au/your-government/the-cabinet/minister-for-mental-health-minister-for-women-and-minister-for-ageing/

*The Hon Victor

Dominello MP

Minister for Financial Services and Property

Suite 202 Ground Floor

5-9 Devlin Street

RYDE NSW 2112

E: ryde@parliament.nsw.gov.au

*The Hon Gabrielle

Upton MP

Minister for Heritage

GPO Box 5341

SYDNEY NSW 2001

E: vaucluse@parliament.nsw.gov.au

*Niall Blair MP

Minister for Trade and Industry

52 Martin Place

SYDNEY NSW 2000

Online at: https://www.nsw.gov.au/ministerblair

*Guides NSW and ACT

Helen White CEO

PO Box 950

Strawberry Hills NSW 2012

Australia

E: guides@girlguides.org.au

*NSW Scouts

PO Box 125

LIDCOMBE NSW 1825

Australia

Online at: https://www.nsw.scouts.com.au/contact/get-in-touch/

*Weddin Shire Council

General Manager Glenn Carroll

PO Box 125

GRENFELL NSW 2810

E: mail@weddin.nsw.gov.au

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For members of the community wishing to find out more about what’s happening with the Grenfell Guides/ Scouts Hall it is suggested you contact the Guides or Scouts Association of New South Wales, contact details listed above.

The Grenfell Record will endeavor to keep residents up to date with the current status of the local Guides/ Scout Hall.