Rural Community Gateway

Welcome to our first International Spotlight, a new feature which will give an international perspective on rural issues, focus on international projects, and bring you examples of good practice and expertise from around the world. Our first spotlight comes all the way from Australia.

Importance of community buildings

When SCVO launched its Halls for All campaign, urging the Scottish Executive to tackle the slow burning crisis in Scotland’s village halls, Jenny Cleary from South Australia sent the following story illustrating the importance of community buildings:

In 2005 there was a very large, very nasty bushfire on Eyre Peninsula (just down the road about 300km). Nine lives were lost, lots of livestock, pets, native animals and property.  It was truly terrible.  In one area there was a tiny little building that served as the post office. Not really a post office, but mail got dropped off there, notices were posted for the district and of course, people met there when they picked up their mail.  They'd talk and it was the place to catch up with your neighbours (who might be spread across the district of course).  It was nothing special, but it was a focal point for this community - their 'place.'

When funding for the recovery and reestablishment came through, people in this district voted overwhelmingly to have a building put back in the same spot - first - even before their own homes and farm buildings were replaced.  

Community halls and meeting places have the same value and meaning in rural places the world over, I reckon.

Jenny works in the field of community development and is Core Project Leader, Bush Products, Desert Knowledge Co-operative Research Centre. She is a Rural Gateway member and forged links with SCVO's Rural Team at the 2005 International Rural Network Conference in Virginia, USA.

Campaign gathers momentum

SCVO’s Village Halls campaign is gathering momentum, with over 700 signatures already on the e-petition and hundreds being gathered across the country on paper.

Village and community halls in Scotland perform a vital role in rural areas but the volunteers who run these halls are finding it difficult to keep them running as funding has been cut and costs rise. SCVO would like everyone who cares about and values their village hall to read and sign their e-petition to the Scottish Parliament.

You can sign the petition until 27th July 2007. If you would like paper copies of the petition, or posters to display, please contact Sandra Hogg at Sandra.hogg@scvo.org.uk.

You can read more about the campaign in our article Campaign urges Executive to tackle village halls crisis or on the Village Halls website.

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