LOCAL charities could benefit from an open day at one of Australia's oldest jails in 2015.
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The Rotary Club of Berrima District has proposed staging an open day at Berrima Gaol on the Australia Day long weekend in 2015The jail has been decommissioned in recent years and the open day would be the first time the public has had access in more than a decade.
Rotary has gained approval from the Corrective Services Department for this one-off use and is looking to work with a range of organisations including local Aboriginal representatives and the Berrima community to make the open day a success. Club president Allen Cupitt said it was a chance to showcase an important regional heritage structure in advance of final decisions about its future and management, which is currently the subject of determination by the courts.
"This is an ideal opportunity for the community to satisfy their curiosity by visiting an iconic landmark structure in the region by facilitating tours over the Australia Day long weekend in January," he said.
"Rotary is actively seeking to work with other groups to make the proposed Berrima GaolBreak weekend a community fundraising success.
"Rotary appreciates the support we have received from our local state MPs Pru Goward and Jai Rowell who have been 100 per cent behind our vision.
"The Corrective Services Department, Lands Department and the Wingecarribee Shire Council have provided us with welcome assistance and share our desire to support our community through this event."
Senior Gundungurra elder Velma 'Aunty Val' Mulcahy said she welcomed the opportunity to work with Rotary on the fundraising project.