Perthville's Development Group is in danger of folding, unless it can attract new volunteers

The Perthville Hall is currently used for everything from weddings to piano lesson, playgroups and karate, but the current committee can longer manage it.

Brian Atkinson, who has been committee treasurer for years said the reality was the committee were all retiring and there is no one else to run the organisation.

Committee positions being vacated are president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, hall booking coordinator, fair coordinator and publicity officer.

“No one on the committee is interested in taking over the positions from the people who are stepping down,” Mr Atkinson said.

“This means unless we have some new people join the committee our Perthville Development Group will no longer be operational.

“Our current committee mainly comprises of three couples, all over 70.

“While we are all retiring from the positions we are still happy to help, but if no one comes forward the group will close.”

Mr Atkinson said it would be a sad day for the village if this happened.

“We fought hard to get the hall, I hope the community don’t lose it through lack of interest,” he said.

“But if there is no response, a motion will be put to close down the Perthville Development Group, leaving council without a manager of the hall.”

Mr Atkinson said the hall was used most days in one way or another.

“That hall is used a lot; the karate group use it three times a well, my wife teaches piano one morning a week, the Galloping Gumnuts, which is a pre school group meet there once a fortnight.

“There is also a ladies singing group that rehearse there before events, we even have weddings and corporate functions there.”

“It’s quite a nice hall, it was originally built in the 1920s, it had three trustees, as the land was given to the community by the state government, but over time all three trustees died.

“In 2005 there was an article in the Western Advoate about a squatter claiming ownership rights to the building because he'd been living there, so a public meeting was called, and a committee formed; we got rid of the squatter and council demolished the old hall and built a new one in 2008.”

Mr Atkinson said since then the current committee have run the hall, but the time has come to hand over the reins.

“We need to get as many people along to the general meeting at the hall on Wednesday, November 2, starting at 7pm.

“If no one can be found to replace current members we will have no choice but to advise council we can’t manage the hall, which will be a sad for the community.”