Future planning key for Cromwell hall
THERE are concerns in our community re the cost of improving the Cromwell Memorial Hall and willingness to spend unnecessarily huge amounts of money on facilities/improvements not benefitting the whole community and at continuing high cost. The economy is booming but will ease and while saying ‘‘yes’’ to improvement and progress, we should be prudent now in order to cope in the future.
It is crucial to improve our community facility, but with utmost care and thought, in conjunction with improved infrastructure, future planning and alongside the district plan looking to the next 1520 years to make sure we get this right. Built in the 1950s, then population was around 900 and now just over 5500, the hall only caters for groups of around 300 when a capacity around 500plus makes sense. A ‘‘renovation’’ is not the answer and appears shortsighted.
Many believed the last petition was for a ‘‘new’’ hall, not a renovation and this point needs mentioning. I applaud the petition and efforts of those involved but not a ‘‘for and against’’ approach. As a whole, we need to work towards the best outcome for everyone and while the wonderful people in these energetic groups get things started and without them our community would stall, renovating the hall is like putting on the proverbial bandage, stuck with large sums of money, but unnecessary when a demolition/rebuild is cheaper and done with respect to those who built it.
This is an opportunity to create a strategic vision for Cromwell, providing a facility which will cope with its ‘‘future’’, not just the ‘‘short term’’. Renovating means ongoing costs for years and generations to come which could see the whole thing shelved.
If evidence points to a more costeffective rebuild, then get on with it before a bigger, newer facility is invested in for Cromwell from outside which will push the hall to the sidelines. Cromwellians please have your say via community groups/boards/ councils and other local representatives.
Christine and Ken Galbraith
Cromwell
Venue praised
CONGRATULATIONS to whoever conceived the brilliant idea of holding the Dunedin performance of Cantate Canticum Novum at St Patrick’s Basilica. Pure genius and the entire evening was a fabulous success. The merged choirs of Cantores (Dunedin) and of St Mary’s Basilica (Invercargill) with the impressive Chamber
Orchestra and the two excellent soprano soloists, plus our own popular bass, Jonathan Lemalu, was so exciting and enthralling. Dr Raymond White, who provided organ and piano accompaniment and conductor Gregory Peyroux could be well satisfied with the response of the large and enthusiastic audience.
It was great to see folk from resthomes present in numbers and St Pats is well situated in this regard, with ample parking, level access to the church, comfy seating in the round and a warm interior. Hopefully this acoustically impressive venue will attract further reasonably priced musical events. I came away feeling uplifted and looking forward to future performances. Maureen Kerr
Dalmore
Reunion
John McGlashan College: Next year the school will celebrate 100 years of education in Dunedin. The centenary will be held on February 911. All former pupils and staff are encouraged to register on our website, www.mcglashan100.nz.
Any inquiries, please email mcglashan100@gmail.com or contact the event chairman, George Friedlander on 027 276 6814.