THE NEW QCWA (Queensland Country Women’s Association) hall is starting to take shape, in Collinsville, while they await further funding approval.
With a new government in place after the election, the QCWA is awaiting approval for an extra $100,000, to make $425,000, to be able to further finalise the construction of the hall.
The QCWA 60 years old building was demolished four years ago, with the hope of constructing a brand new hall to replace it.
Unfortunately, after COVID-19, the initial funded grant fell short, putting the construction at risk.
“We needed to upgrade and were not compliant, and they said we needed a new hall, we got the money five months before COVID struck and we weren’t able to build,” QCWA treasurer Marissa Kearney said.
“We need to wait for the new government to give us the OK for the further $100,000.”
The hall is planned to hold 120 people and become Collinsville’s main gathering space, for the community to enjoy meetings, parties, weddings and even training activities for the mining companies.
“At the moment, there is not any place in Collinsville that can comfortably hold so many people,” Ms Kearney said.
The story of the construction of the QCWA represents an enormous team effort from the small community in Collinsville, as so many people have been involved in many aspects of the hall’s construction, from grant writing to the raising of the hall.
“Glencore helped us write grants, management and maintenance plans, while others are going to do woodworking.”
The QCWA group is excited because the long-awaited hall now has the concrete down, and soon will stand tall in one of Collinsville’s main streets for the community to enjoy.
