Ngaire Newland, Daviud Roache, Lorraine Davidson and Karen Adams.
Ngaire Newland, Daviud Roache, Lorraine Davidson and Karen Adams.
A bid to save Foxton War Memorial Hall is gaining momentum with a proposed trust tasked to do just that.
Under recently introduced earthquake building codes, the hall had to be strengthened or demolished by June 2031, estimated to cost almost $250,000, on top of annual running costs estimated at$19,000.
But a committee pushing to save the hall on Foxton's Main St is planning a public meeting in February next year, where it hoped to finalise trustees, set a budget, and galvanise community support.
It was an emotive topic for some Foxton people as the hall was full of memories. It had been used for countless 21st birthdays, weddings, reunions, dances, public meetings and civic functions since it opened in 1954.
A trust would work to a mission statement: "To retain community ownership of the Foxton War Memorial Hall and operate it in an efficient, safe and commercial manner to service the community while maintaining the character of a community War Memorial."
The FWMH Trust organising committee meet again on January 19, with a public meeting planned for the second week of February 2021. Anyone wanting to support those trying to save the hall were encouraged to attend.
The trust has the support of Foxton Community Board chairman David Roache who said the hall was an important community asset. He had four grandchildren celebrate their 21st birthdays in the hall in recent times.
Ngaire Newland, David Roache, Lorraine Davidson and Karen Adams.
Roache said he would like to see all avenues explored to have the hall repaired and retained, rather than see it flogged off or demolished. He said the building was too good for that.
He said from a business point of view there were options available to create revenue streams and different uses for the hall, like leasing out two areas at the front of the property that would be perfect for businesses, while not impacting on hall use.
Roache said they plan to negotiate with current owners Horowhenua District Council on a realistic price for the hall, which he said was $100, while also exploring other funding streams for and seeking relief for expenses like rates.
Rates are around $2500 a year and insurance $1500.
Horowhenua District Council made a decision in 2018 not to spend anymore money on the hall and not to fund the seismic strengthening, but it would hand over the hall to a non-profit organisation on the proviso the strengthening work would be carried out.
HDC would require minimum strengthening requirements be met though, to avoid potential liability should the building collapse resulting in human casualties.
A Foxton War Memorial Trust was first mooted following a public meeting in October last year after discussions with Horowhenua District Council chief executive David Clapperton, but it had taken time to organise.
Ngaire Newland.
Foxton Community Board member Ngaire Newland said there was a genuine desire within the Foxton community to save the hall.
But future community use of the hall had to be encouraged, she said.
In 2018, expenses ($20,697) outweighed income from hall hire ($3944), but hall hire had to be set at a realistic level to encourage use, as it cost $61 an hour for the entire building, while main hall costs were set at $28 per hour.
Trustee Foxton Beach resident Karen Adams had a background in the military and was involved in numerous community initiatives, like the restoration of gravesites of fallen soldiers.
Karen Adams.
She said there hearing support from Foxton and Foxton Beach residents to retain the hall and was willing to support the trust and step forward as a trustee.
"But people need to put their hand up. It will need community involvement," she said.
"It does seem like there is trust after trust though. Maybe we need one trust to be formed to look after Foxton's heritage and history to cut down on administration costs."
Lorraine Davidson was born in Foxton in 1937 and had lived there her entire life. She said the hall was once used for every weekend for dances and throughout the year for different events.
Davidson said she remembers the hall being filled with live bands, singing and playing instruments, piano and saxophone.
Lorraine Davidson was born in Foxton in 1937. Her children has their 21st birthdays in the hall.
"There was no drinking in the hall though, and no drugs in those days," she said.
"It's got a lovely floor to dance on."
But they were all conscious that the hall would be sold if the trust was not successful. If anyone would like further information or can contribute positively towards a trust, they could contact David Roache or email Ngaire on ngairee@xtra.co.nz.
