Long-time islanders reckon it was the best night’s entertainment that Bruny has seen for many years, with more than 140 people gathering to celebrate the centenary of the lovely old Lunawanna Hall.
"The date was 26 November 1919. World War I had ended just over a year before.
On that day - a Wednesday - the Governor of Tasmania, Sir Francis Newdegate, travelled to Bruny Island to officially place the foundation stone of the Lunawanna Memorial Hall, in tribute to the servicemen of the district who fought in the Great War and in acknowledgement of their families who stayed behind.
Building the hall involved the wider community - post-war austerity led to delays in construction, but the hall finally opened in 1924.
In November 2019, the Lunawanna Memorial Hall reached its 100th anniversary of the laying of its foundation stone and we celebrated this significant event in our community with an evening of fun, music and entertainment."
-The Lunawanna Memorial Hall Committee
Early arrivals heard the distant sound of pipes and drums approaching along Bruny Island Main Road, as the Tasmania Police Pipe Band marched towards the hall. The crowd moved aside as the band filled the room with stirring martial music - it was a fitting introduction to the official part of the evening, with the dedication of the newly-installed honour board and commemoration plaque.
Excerpt from Bruny News:
www.bica.org.au...
Written by Chris Viney
www.brunyisland.com.au