The Wanganui District Council wanted to make another body responsible for maintaining the building in the late 1980s, Pam Richardson said.
"They wanted it off their hands. It was a bit sad as a building," Mr Richardson said.
The council called a public meeting, and it became clear that some people valued the building just as a building, while others wanted it to keep functioning for music and dance and theatre.
As the supreme winners last night, Friends of the Opera House picked up a trophy, $1500 and an all-expenses paid trip to the Trustpower National Community Awards in Dunedin, in March next year. Kathy Parnell, speaking for last year's winners, said it had been a great weekend.
The winner of Wanganui's Trustpower Youth Community Spirit Award was inspired to be in a room with so many other helping people.
Renee Harrison is head girl at Wanganui Girls' College, an organiser, a voice for the underdog, a youth councillor and an accredited netball umpire.
She won $500 for herself and $250 to hand to a charity of her choice. She chose For Our Kids, which pleased that group.
Trustpower master of ceremonies Kathlene Cook said the organisation felt honoured by the gift and "stoked" that Renee had won the award. Renee herself said she felt hugely honoured.
She said her whole school was behind the awards occasion.
Renee made special mention of her mother and father, who were "sitting teary-eyed in the corner". They had been her taxi drivers and, she said, their support melted her heart.
Other notable moments of the awards night were mention of Eruera Heitia-Ponga, last year's youth winner, who sang a waiata at the awards and died a few days later.
"None of us are ever going to forget that," deputy mayor Hamish McDouall said.
Wanganui City College got a special commendation for the "student army" it quickly mustered after the June flood. Principal Peter Kaua said he wished all his students could be in the room.
"The people that are sitting here right now are all people who give. I want the kids to aspire to give back." Another special commendation went to the Matipo Development Trust, started by former Black Power members who wanted to make a difference.
The Rapanui-Brunswick Playcentre also fell short of an award, but was commended for its work to educate parents and children.
There was even an award for nominators of the 98 groups in the awards. It was drawn out of a hat and went to Wanganui councillor Helen Craig.
"You just have to nominate a lot of groups. That's how you win this," she said.
Trustpower's Ms Cook said some bigger centres had fewer nominations than Wanganui and the number was evidence of massive community spirit, which was also evident in the response to the June floods.