This follows $28,000 in state government funding which was given to the trust earlier in the year through the Public Reserve Management Fund. 

Gilgai Hall Trust chairman Han Ebbeling, who is passionate about the building, was pleased that further improvements could be made. 

So far the trust has replaced the hot water system in the men’s shower facilities and fixed sections of the hall ceiling which fell in a few months ago, requiring an emergency grant. 

“You can’t afford to have that sort of thing happening when there’s 100 people here for a birthday party,” said Han. 

The new grant means  the system in the female showers can be updated and the footpath around the war memorial  repaired. 

“We’re very pleased to receive the funding and hope to get all this finished by the end of the month”, said Han.

While the trust prepared to fix the ceiling, a leak sprung in the bathroom creating even more work for the members. 

“We really have been quite busy,” trust secretary Pamela Bennett said of the five years since she joined. 

Pamela, who is a member of the Inverell Kennel Club applied to be a member of the trust when she realised with only three members, they were too small to provide catering for a Kennel Club event. 

The hall is used for wedding receptions, birthday parties, federal election polling days and the Inverell Kennel Club’s annual dog show weekend. 

The community is currently preparing for the Medieval Festival on September 19-20.