General News
15 October, 2023
Back-to-Bridgewater this coming weekend: community of resilience
THE Roaring 20s were a time of hope, excitement and vision for Bridgewater-on-Loddon. The riverside community had welcomed home soldiers from the battles of World War One half a world away. More than 500 people in the district immediately set to...
THE Roaring 20s were a time of hope, excitement and vision for Bridgewater-on-Loddon.
The riverside community had welcomed home soldiers from the battles of World War One half a world away.
More than 500 people in the district immediately set to raising funds to build a town hall that would be an eternal tribute to those who came home and those who did not.
The memorial hall was opened in 1923 and soon became the hub of civic and social life - community meetings calling for reticulated water, balls and dances organised by local churches that attracted hundreds from far and wide.
Geoffrey Hurry, the new federal member of Parliament for the area, was given the honour of officially opening the hall.
He had been commanding officer of the 38th Battalion. Among those the new hall honoured was Bridgewater’s William Cumming killed in Belgium in 1917.
The sobering tribute at the hall to more than 130 local men and women of World War One (and additional plaques for later conflicts) has signalled resilience and community celebration for 10 decades.
The hall has been the hub of back-to gatherings, the last more than 50 years ago, when former residents have returned to reconnect with family and friends.
Now another back-to will help the grand hall of Bridgewater celebrate its centenary on the weekend of October 21 and 22, and the commitment of a community honouring those 130 names with unswerving resilience.
The grand ball will be a highlight of events put together by a community group through Bridgewater on Loddon Development. BOLD has invested funds into the rejuvenation of the hall ensuring this public asset is a bright cheery place for local events and community hire. BOLD is among local groups who use the hall for meetings.
“The weekend will be a party where everyone can catch up,” said one of the organisers Jill Hobbs.
“And the hall centenary ball will reveal for the first time recent renovations that have the hall sparkling as it was 100 years ago.
“There’ll be dancing from 8pm, time for a traditional country supper continuing the tradition at all great balls and community events hosted in this beautiful building since it was opened and of course, a centenary cake to be cut and shared.”
The centenary and back-to weekend will showcase local organisations equally important to the town’s resilience over the past century.
“The bowling club and fire brigade will have memorabilia displays,” she said.
“The school has been waiting to celebrate its sesquicentenary after COVID put a halt to original plans and will mark 150 years plus two during the back-to weekend.”
Construction of Bridgewater Memorial Hall was finished in early 1923 and within a few years had been fully paid for by the community. More than 3000 pounds was raised.
The new hall - Bridgewater once had a Mechanics’ Institute - also became a local picture theatre soon showing the new talkie movies transforming the entertainment world.
It was also part of a post-war building boom for the town. A new school was built and earlier Catholic and Anglican churches were replaced in 1926 and 1929.
And come 1928, residents who had gathered in the new Bridgewater Memorial Hall within months of its opening had achieved reticulated water for the town.
“The hall is a wonderful part of the Bridgewater community and very much taking the journey of resilience and progress with the town over the last 100 years,” Jill said.
“A grand building we’ll be toasting and celebrating as the community comes together for a weekend of back-to activities.”