By Melissa Coleman
The future looks bright for the Wallangarra School of Arts Hall after installing solar panels in 2019.
The blue community hall found the yearly electricity bills excessive and needed to find a way to combat the cost.
Wallangarra Jennings Progress Association bookings officer Stacey Thomas said they were receiving electricity bills around $2000 per year even though the only item running was the beer fridge.
“We would only turn on the other fridges and freezer for functions, and then turn them straight off again because we couldn’t afford to leave them on,” Ms Thomas said.
“It was a large bill for so little electricity.
“That’s what families pay per year with many items running 24/7,” she said.
Air conditioning and heating were also required at the time since the hall could only be used during the summer months.
“We applied for a $35,000 grant through the Qld Gambling Fund and were successful,” Ms Thomas said.
“We were able to install solar panels on the roof which we thought would at least cover the $2000 bill we received and pay for the reverse cycle air conditioner we installed.”
Moving forward to 2022, the hall has become a viable and affordable venue with the solar panels producing a credit each year and event bookings doubled.
“The solar panels have been brilliant. Prior to 2019, we would maybe get six bookings per year.
“We are able to use the credit to fund other events and it’s money we would not have otherwise as a not-for-profit organisation,” she said.
The Wallangarra Jennings Progress Association organisation is currently sourcing information to apply for another grant to renovate and upgrade the kitchen and toilets, paint the outside and sand and seal the floor.
“It’s considered the best dancefloor on the Granite Belt, so we need to look after it,” Ms Thomas said.
“It is such as big, beautiful hall with its stage area, bar, and supper room and being conveniently located near the playground with ample parking it’s a very desirable venue, so we are looking to promote it more and more.”
“We charge $120 per day for use and $60 per day for other NFP organisations,” she said.
The next event at the Wallangarra School of Arts hall in the Xmas Fair which will be held in December.
“We are looking forward to that because Covid downgraded our event in 2021 when people across the border couldn’t come, which was devastating.”
The WJPA hold regular meetings with the next meeting on Wednesday 9 November.
Bookings can be made by calling Stacey on 0422844457.
