Crown Land Forms
B
F
G
I
J
K
O
Q
U
V
X
Y
Z
A group of Vietnam veterans have helped give a new lease of life to an old school house on the Upper Manilla Recreation Reserve by turning it into a community amenities block.
The reserve, which is located 10 kilometres from Manilla Township, is run by a seven-member community trust board comprising members of the North West Vietnam Veterans Social Group Incorporated and the amenities block is the latest part of an ongoing project to maintain and improve the reserve.
The group has been at the forefront of efforts to upgrade the hall and surrounding grounds through fund raising and the provision of volunteer labour and is also very active in promoting the reserve to the general public.
The new amenities block provides a useful multi-purpose community asset located in a beautiful setting and is the result of hours of commitment from the trustees to see the project through to fruition.
The old school house was built in 1891 and schooled most of the settlers in the area for many years. The Recreation Reserve is set on approximately 2.2 acres and enjoys one of the best views in the area.
A $20,000 grant was approved by Minister for Lands Tony Kelly in November 2006 towards the cost of building work for the amenities block and an additional $4,000 to complete the work was granted through the Public Reserves Management Fund (PRMF) last November.
The block was officially opened at an event in May which included a barbecue lunch and was attended by representatives from the LPMA as well as local Independent MP Peter Draper, Federal Member for New England Tony Windsor, and other project supporters.
(from left) Bob Chapman (chairman North West Vietnam Vets Social Group), Ley Barnes, Belinda Kelly, State MP Peter Draper, Federal MP Tony Windsor and Bob Veall (secretary North West Vietnam Vets Social Group) celebrate the official opening of the new amenities block.
