General News
4 May, 2022
Garvoc hall opened with touching tribute
THE Garvoc community paid a heartfelt tribute to stalwart Leo Campbell at the official opening of its new community hub last Saturday.
THE Garvoc community paid a heartfelt tribute to stalwart Leo Campbell at the official opening of its new community hub last Saturday.
Members of the Garvoc community were joined by Moyne Shire deputy mayor Daniel Meade and Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney to officially open the $600,000 community hub and pay their respects with the planting of a water gum tree in honour of Mr Campbell.
Also unveiled was a plaque in recognition of the past and present Garvoc District Residents Incorporated committee members.
Cr Meade said the event had been “a long time in the making”.
“I’d like to give a particular mention to the late Leo Campbell, who was instrumental in the development of the new community facility,” he said.
“It was a major achievement for the Garvoc community, and without Leo’s passion it may not have been possible."
“This facility provides a place for community groups such as our residents group, Garvoc Country Fire Authority (CFA) and the soon-to-be-started family day care to operate out of, and has already proven itself to be a better community meeting point for various events already happening.”
Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney said Mr Campbell would have been “very, very proud” of both the community hub and the “beautiful community” of Garvoc.
“This is a tribute to the work of Leo, and it’s an absolute honour to be with his wife Diane and the Campbell family,” she said.
“We will remember this day, now and forever, and make Leo even prouder thanwhat he is.”
Ms Tierney said her first connection to Garvoc was meeting young mothers at a funding announcement in 2006.
She said knowing the hub would be prominent throughout the growth of families made the project all the more important.
“This wonderful facility is not just about children, although a lot of it will be about children with the new vocational care that will be provided, but also about older children playing sport and hopefully will have a playground attached as well,” Ms Tierney said.
“It will be about the local families inthe region."
“Being able to come together for a whole range of activities that will make this community healthier and happier, and also be a very fit-for-purpose for the CFA in particular.”
Ms Tierney said she had discussed the Garvoc community with current Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes, who made the funding announcement in 2020 when she was Minister for Regional Development.
“Jaclyn said to me, Gayle, that community at Garvoc is amazing,” she said.
“She was just so overwhelmed."
“She’s a country girl and she was even taken aback by how cohesive, enthusiastic and vibrant this community is."
“That’s stayed with me, and we’ve touched a number of times on the importance of this hall and community facilities such as this in our Victorian landscape.”
Garvoc District Residents Incorporated president Adam Bellman thanked Regional Development Victoria (RDV), Moyne Shire Council and the Garvoc community for their efforts to bring the hub to fruition.
“In an era where a lot of communities are dying off and losing valued members of their community, we see even in this area local halls are being sold,” he said.
“To have a community which has a brand new facility just shows the faith RDV, Moyne Shire and the community have in Garvoc.”
Mr Bellman said the committee had toyed with the idea of refurbishing the old hall but knew parking, access and being separated from the facilities over the other side of the highway, such as the playground at the park, would remain lingering problems.
He said the dedicated work of the committee, led by Mr Campbell, saw the best decision made for Garvoc.
“We were very lucky Leo had a bit of a background in construction,” MrBellman said.
“He liked to think he could keep an eye on where the money was going; it was a big thing because he just wanted to make sure every dollar went towards getting us exactly what we needed and what the community would benefit from."
“Leo was a Garvocian through and through, and without his passion and drive this project wouldn’t have got to where it is today."
“Given that he can’t be here to celebrate the official opening, I think it’s important we recognise not only his contribution but the importance of his family’s contribution in supporting him in his endeavours to get this facility for us."
