Toongi’s hall of fame
JUST off Obley Road, only 20 minutes from Dubbo stands a community hall and tennis court area that has been the heart of the Toongi District since 1927.
Originally the hub for district gatherings and tennis competitions, today it still brings generations of district families together for a game of tennis and to celebrate special events like milestone birthdays, weddings and the annual district Christmas party.
Attending an event at Toongi Hall takes you back to the days before the Internet. Everyone mixes and mingles and talks about their families and farms; their businesses and family milestones. It’s relaxing and caring; new babies are passed around to cuddle and at the Christmas Party children excitedly dash between parents and friends playing tag while they await Santa’s arrival on the Emmagool Rural Brigades Fire truck.
All the families contribute to the children’s gifts and the look of excitement on their faces when there names are called reminds you of your childhood excitement in the days when your family attended similar Christmas gatherings.
There’s no one isolated sitting alone texting; on calls or social media and they couldn’t even if they wanted as it’s in a little treasured blackspot. It’s worth the drive alone to have a picnic under the trees and get a technology break!
Families in the Toongi area manage the hall voluntarily under The Toongi Recreation Reserve and Hall Trust. For the last 89 years, families in the district and volunteer committee members have been actively maintaining the hall and area, and raising funds to improve the hall.
Toongi has experienced a regeneration since the Hall’s website went live in May 2015. As a regular visitor to Toongi with his family in his early years, Glen Dunkley chose to get married there in September 2014 - to me - and we with our guests were able to appreciate the wonderful relaxed atmosphere.
With their backgrounds in events; grant writing and digital marketing they saw there was an opportunity for the hall to increase exposure to a new audience and Glen set up the website www.toongihall.com.au and continues to maintain it at no cost to the Trust.
Its no wonder the relaxing country atmosphere has attracted a lot of interest for country-style weddings and events. The highlight for the year was the Festival of Small Halls concert in March 2016. The Festival attracted around 100 people, many of whom were first time visitors to the Hall.
The increased income and profile has helped the Trust make improvements and secure grants.
Wayne Bruce sanded and polished the cypress pine Supper Room floor, then sanded the main Hall floor, with trust members and their spouses applying the finish. The floors look wonderful!
The latest improvement is a brand new synthetic grass tennis court installed by Jeff Costello, with another court repaired. The Trust was delighted to receive a grant for these works under the Federal Government’s Stronger Communities Programme facilitated through Mark Coulton MP’S office.
The former Dubbo City Council supported the Trust through several rounds of Financial Assistance to community organisations. Essential Energy has also helped with a couple of grants under its Community Halls scheme. The 2016 Macquarie Muster committee hosted its Year 10 party at the Hall in April and followed up with a very generous donation to the Trust.
Toongi Hall, which was once a hidden gem has been able to promote itself as an event destination, attracting International acts in the Festival of Small Halls and event bookings from as far afield as Gosford and Sydney. It’s certainly demonstrated the difference it makes to community groups; their volunteers and families when they adopt digital marketing to help remain relevant in today’s online world.