"I am very pleased to be here tonight to officially open the new and enhanced Binnu Hall.

What an impressive new facility it is!

I am very proud that Royalties for Regions, through the Regional Grants Scheme and the Country Local Government Fund, contributed almost $600,000 to see this project come to fruition.

Community Halls are essential part of our regional towns.

They really are the lifeblood of rural communities.

School concerts, 21^st birthday parties, wedding anniversaries, sewing and dance classes, art exhibitions, sporting presentations, community meetings and emergency check points – all these are more often than not held in the community hall.

Whether it’s your child’s first school play or a day you spent making sandwiches for emergency workers - memories are made in country halls.

Lifelong friendships are formed and great new ideas are hatched.

I understand this hall is already playing a large role in the community – as the new home for the Playgroup, CWA, Progress Association, Tennis Club and many other community groups.

Last year’s end of year school concert was one of the first events in the new hall – and I’m told it was a fabulous show.

But it’s not the bricks and mortar or the flash new amenities that make Binnu’s new hall great – it’s the community behind it. 

The people who developed the idea for the new facility, and the teams of people who then got behind making it happen.

The hall and it surrounds that we enjoy today are the result of hundreds of hours of volunteer labour from the Binnu community.

I understand thanks must go to Barry Marshall and Murray Carsson who organised a roster of locals to assist contractor Lane Hose to get the landscaping done.

Thanks also to the many locals who lent their time and equipment – who sacrificed their weekends to cart sand, to plant trees and to lay paving.

And don’t forget the team who put together the often tedious, but necessary funding applications.

It’s interesting, but not in the least bit surprising that the original Binnu Hall came about as a result of the same community spirit and effort.

During 1952 the then very small community of Binnu agreed a town hall was in order.

The Binnu Balla Progress Association headed up by Mr Archie Henville coordinated the hall’s establishment.

Each farmer was asked to donate 20 bushels of wheat or 20 pounds to go towards the cost of building the hall.

Cake stalls, raffles and sports days were held to raise the remainder of the funds.

The local men spent their spare time at the river moulding bricks for the hall with their bare hands - there were no cement mixers or front end loaders in these days!

Ted Vaughan was the builder.

In 1955 the hall was officially opened by Mr Bill Sewell the then Member for Geraldton.

Local ladies catered for the night - and locals danced the night away in their new facility.

The hall became the centrepiece of the town and very much the impetus for Binnu’s continued development.

The hall was followed by the construction of the tennis courts in 1959.

I know for many people here tonight the old Binnu Hall was where many memories were made.

Weddings, birthdays, junior farmer and CWA meetings were held in the hall Badminton was also very popular.

The Binnu Hall dances were probably where the most memories were made. Especially the annual ball which was held to raise money for the hall’s up keep.

One unique thing about the original Binnu Hall was its dance floor. During the hall’s first winter a small part of the floor sunk.

Thereafter the Binnu Hall became known to out-of-town dance goers for its dip on the dance floor!

Memorabilia from the original hall is on display tonight – thank you to Jenny Harris for reaching into the archives!

Tonight starts a new chapter in the Binnu the history book. For the young faces here tonight, I know this building will be host to many unforgettable events for decades to come. There will be many laughs had, many memories made, and many, many friendships formed.

The Nationals WA understand the role of facilities such as town halls in regional communities.

I think only those who have enjoyed a country lifestyle and who have been part of regional community know the importance of such things.

To our metropolitan counterparts I dare say buildings look like this look just another brick or tin structure – but like I’ve said – we know they are so much more than this.

The Nationals WA, through Royalties for Regions, will ensure regional communities continue to get the investment they need for their unique project needs.

Thank you for inviting me here tonight to be a part of this historic occasion.

I officially declare the Binnu Hall open

I look forward to catching up with you after the official formalities have concluded."