THOSE travelling down Roona Rd during the past several weeks may have noticed a lot of activity in and around Junabee Hall.

Work has begun on the renovation and refurbishment of the community's Memorial Hall in what is hoped to be a fitting tribute to the pioneers of the Junabee district as well as to the brave men and women from this area who served our country through the various conflicts since settlement.

In October 1944, residents of the districts of Junabee and Jingarry came together to discuss the viability of constructing a new hall for the district to be a centre for social activity for generations to come.

As a result, Junabee Hall was officially opened on January 5, 1946.

The forethought and planning undertaken in these early years ensured that the building, which has stood proudly for more than 71 years being lovingly cared for by the custodian residents of the district, is still being used as a functional venue for local social gatherings today.

A few months ago, Neale Kemp, great-grandson of one of the pioneer Junabee families - James Jermyn Kemp - approached the Junabee Memorial Hall committee regarding refurbishment of the Junabee Hall, with a view to celebrating the area's settlement and agricultural history.

Neale's vision began many years ago while researching the Kemp family history but became a much higher priority when his father, Wally Kemp, a former well-known resident of Junabee, became ill and sadly passed in May.

In researching the family's history in Junabee, it became clear that there was little or no evidence of the history of the pioneering families of the Junabee district and that their stories needed to be told.

Neale, born in Junabee and who now lives in rural Canada, is financing this venture.

He is envisaging that once this ambitious project is complete, tourists and locals alike will travel to Junabee as a destination to take a walk along the landscaped path and gardens, read the interpretive plaques that tell of the rich history of the district and pause at the war memorial and garden to reflect on all those who have served in military conflicts.

In the days before television, computers and fast motor vehicles, the community hall was the heart of the farming community.

The hall was the venue for social interactions and was used on a regular basis for meetings, engagements, pre-wedding functions, comings-of-age, welcomes, farewells, dances, euchre nights, family/sports days, picnics and the list goes on.

During the two world wars, as each of the local lads headed off, the community would organise a send-off to bid farewell and to wish them a safe return. People from all over the area would gather for these events, which up until 1946 were held at the community Temperance Hall, and it was not rare for these celebrations to continue until the early hours.

As the Temperance Hall began to fall into disrepair, there was a clear need to find a replacement.

The motivation and determination of this farming community to build a new hall that would be there for generations to come as a centre for social interaction.

New hall for Junabee

On October 4, 1944, a public meeting was convened by the Junabee branch of the Queensland Dairymen's Organisation at the Temperance Hall at Junabee to consider the question of the erection of a new public hall within the community.

After much discussion, the meeting concluded that it was desirable that a new hall should be established at Junabee.

After a ballot, a Committee of Enquiry, comprising five members (RJ Brownlie, N McCoist, MJ Hade, V Braithwaite and JJ Kemp Jr), was elected and appointed to make inquiries as to the appropriate size of the hall, cost etc and to locate a suitable site.

It was also decided that a list of subscriptions be opened to start the building fund.

Most families around the district generously promised in the vicinity of £5 and this provided a great start for the building fund and a great beginning for this much-needed community hall for the district.

Two weeks later, 40 residents of Junabee and Jingarry attended another meeting on the subject of the proposed hall.

The meeting was informed that the International Organisation of Good Templars had agreed to the request to sell the Junabee Temperance Hall to the residents of the district for £20.

The appointed committee of enquiry reported that a rough plan of the proposed new building had been drafted with dimensions of 35ft x 60ft and they had inspected building sites and had recommended that the most suitable site would be that of Mr C R Staff.

Hall renovations to date

In March this year, the Junabee Memorial Hall Committee received a grant and, together with a generous donation from a long-time resident of the area, used these funds to re-roof the building. At the same time, insulation was installed under the roofing iron.

Since then, the hall has been restumped along the eastern and northern walls and the floor levelled.

The external rear wall of the building has been replaced with new chamfer boards due to white ant damage and has been repainted. Further, the bottom edges of the building have been enclosed with picketing.

Reconstruction has now moved to the interior of the building with the removal of all the interior wall sheeting and the supper room ceiling.

The supper room partition wall has also been removed and is being replaced with very appealing support posts and decorative trim reflecting the era of the hall's construction.

Work is starting soon on the installation of v-joint wall boards that will replace the wall sheeting. Also we are planning to line the interior of the eastern wall with a large vinyl print consisting of a collage of pictures telling the story of Junabee's agricultural past.

Many other refurbishments are planned and these will be reported in in these pages as they are completed.

On the grounds of the hall, a Soldier's Memorial and garden will be installed. Also planned is the construction of a replica of the Jingarry school play shed, including picnic tables and landscaped gardens and paths, with the inclusion of interpretive plaques providing the visitor with a history of the district

Celebrations

on the way

There will be a social gathering at the Hall on Saturday evening of September 22, 2018, and a re-dedication of the hall is planned for the Sunday, September 23, 2018. This will be a memorable day and the committee would like to extend an invitation to as many people from the area as possible to attend.

Also that weekend, the Kemp family will be celebrating a family reunion on Friday and Saturday, September 21-22.

Any family members of the Kemp family from Junabee area please save this date.

Lastly, a call out for some help. We are looking for anyone that may have pictures and memorabilia from 1890-1960 either of the Junabee district or the Kemp family.

If your family is from Junabee, we would like to see them remembered.

Phone Dianne Crowe on 0407 163 672 or 4661 4746.