Wallan resident Julie Palmer has been recognised for her volunteer work with the Wallan Public Hall Committee of Management.
Ms Palmer received an award from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, DEECA, on May 26 recognising her 30 years of volunteering at the hall.
Ms Palmer, a Wallan resident since 1975, joined the committee of management in 1993.
President of the hall committee of management since 2004, she is actively involved in everyday management.
“I was shocked to receive the award. I didn’t know so many people could keep a secret so well,” she said.
“It was great to receive but I don’t do this for the accolades. I do it to help the community. I think it’s a good thing to do and I love to get involved.”
Ms Palmer joined the committee after her late husband David Palmer began volunteering with the committee. He was awarded posthumously for his services on the committee on the day.
“I would help him with committee work from home. I was always helping so I decided to join the committee,” Ms Palmer said.
“He also wasn’t doing it for the accolades, but it is nice his work was recognised.”
Mr Palmer joined the committee as treasurer in 1987 and remained in the position for 26 years, retiring in 2013 due to ill health.
He was largely responsible for saving the hall from being bulldozed by the council in 1990 due to poor structural condition.
Knowing its social importance Mr Palmer, with community support, fought for its restoration.
“He knew how important the hall was for the community,” Ms Palmer said.
Mr Palmer managed and supervised the hall’s refurbishment, liaising with the project’s heritage architect and building contractors.
Both Mr and Ms Palmer maintained and strengthened the role of the Wallan Public Hall as the civic heart of Wallan.
Both took responsibility for funding and account keeping, and they spent a lot of time on the maintenance and running of the hall.
Ms Palmer said the hall, which is constantly used for private parties and dance classes three times a week among other things, had received upgrades including new a new paintjob and skylights.
“We had a little afternoon tea celebration after we had received $70,000 in funding to restore the hall. It was a lovely celebration,” Ms Palmer said.
She also opens the hall for the Wallan market every month, taking over the responsibility of organising and generating part of the market income to fund ongoing maintenance.
Mr and Ms Palmer also assisted in establishing the Anzac Day services at the hall.
“We were asked if the hall could be used for an Anzac Day service and if we could provide tea. Then it grew to tea and Anzac biscuits, and then tea, sandwiches and Anzac biscuits. It just kept growing,” Ms Palmer said.
“Now we have a dawn service and a mid-morning march and ceremonies.”
After the award presentation, DEECA thanked Ms Palmer and honoured Mr Palmer with a morning tea.
DEECA representatives, Wallan Public Hall Committee of Management members, Ms Palmer’s family and many friends, most of whom are volunteers in the Wallan community, attended the event.
Zarina Borland from DEECA said it had been fantastic to formally recognise the Palmers’ hard work and dedication.
“There have been some impressive achievements from our committees of management,” she said.
Ms Palmer said she was not the only person to have served for a long time on the committee recognising the late Mrs Vallence, mother to current committee member Kerry Page, and the late John Laffan.
“I have been known to tell new members they are signing on for a lifelong commitment,” Ms Palmer said.
Along with her work on the committee, Ms Palmer and her many friends and teams have been instrumental in the success of multiple projects in Wallan, including establishing the kindergarten and secondary school and expanding primary school class groups.
