November 8th, 2024Jean’s Kitchen opens with high tea at Korweinguboora
Long-standing Korweinguboora resident Jean Howard has had the local reserve’s kitchen named after her – as part of a revival of the reserve’s complex.
The extensive renovations included installing a new kitchen, officially opened on Sunday, October 27, with a high tea attended by 50 people.
The renovations came after a new committee was formed in early 2023 and undertook $65,000 worth of work to revive the complex that first opened in 1969 as home of the Korweinguboora Football Club.
Initiated with the support of Moorabool Shire Council, the renovations have included changing all appliances to electric, removing the hall from fossil fuel use, painting the exterior and grading the driveway.
“It is the most wonderful asset for Korweinguboora,” says committee chair Sue Bottrell, “and brings people together to develop bonds and friendship. In these times of unprecedented loneliness and isolation, it is very important.”
Cr Ally Munari from Moorabool Shire attended to unveil the new facility and celebrate the contribution of Ms Howard who has lived in Korweinguboora for 75 years and has fond memories of her time working on the Recreation Reserve committee.
“I was excited to have the kitchen named after me,” says Jean. “It was a real honour, and it was beaut to see lots of people. It was a lovely get together and catch up, especially with those who mean the most to me.
“The committee was more like a social group, locals who became friends. Everyone just pitched in and did what was needed to be done.
“The reserve has certainly changed over the years, with the biggest improvement being the addition of the primary school building to the existing footy club rooms.
“Gwen Bryant and I had to wade through lots of red tape to secure the building and relocate it. The committee had to work hard to fundraise $10,000 and then we had to borrow a further $10,000 from the Ballan Council.”
Sue says Jean was a member of the committee from 1984 to 2010. “She is renowned for her cooking and was a key driver behind upgrading the hall in the late 1990s by purchasing the local school and moving it to the reserve, instantly doubling the size of the facility.”
With Jean as president, the committee raised money to maintain the reserve by holding dinner dances at the pub, community raffles, Christmas functions, and hall hirings.
“Without Jean’s leadership, dedication and determination, we would not have this wonderful space to use today,” Sue added.
Korweinguboora, like so many localities dotted around the Victorian countryside, has seen its ups and downs. The area began as a logging town in the 19th century, supplying timber to the mines of the nearby goldfields.
At its height, Korweinguboora and nearby Spargo Creek were the main settlements in the area, boasting stores, churches, pubs and schools.
By the time of the old Mineral Springs Hotel closure a decade ago, the area including the Recreation Reserve, owned by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, was becoming increasingly vulnerable to the sort of decline familiar to public facilities in many other rural areas.
However with the efforts of the new Committee of Management, the reserve has been given a new lease on life, ensuring the site flourishes as a gathering place for community, visitors, and celebrations well into the future.
But the work is still ongoing, there are plans in place to install a wheelchair accessible toilet, paint the hall’s interior, and re-polish the floors.
All of this work is not only to offer a top notch recreation facility on the edge of the Wombat State Forest but to maintain the vitality of the Korweinguboora community.
Words: Tony Sawrey | Image: Supplied
