Medway Community Association say they're the 'forgotten' village

And if they can't save the hall, they want Wingecarribee Council help to fund the development of a new one.

The residents say they feel left behind and forgotten by the shire, and like the community doesn't exist outside of their small enclave.

At a council meeting in January of 2022 the association thanked Wingecarribee administrator Viv May for providing $1500 funding.

At that time Mr May said: "It's a community council, we are here to help, and we are listening to Medway. The hall will be repaired but it has to fit into a program."

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At the same meeting Mr May referred to a meeting he attended at Medway on October 21, 2021.

"I recollect the water tanks could be used for fire purposes and that sort of thing, but we haven't got to that, and as you can understand there is a lot going on at council," he said.

"I must say that I'm pleased that the staff are responding, and I hope that other communities like Medway that haven't got associations get them because it's one way that council can respond to community needs.

"You won't get any argument from me about the staff recommendation for funding."

However, in November of 2023 discussions around refurbishing the hall, or building a new one to replace it, appear to have stalled.

That's according to association member Steve Denford. He said the Medway residents were frustrated that Medway Hall continues to be forgotten in Wingecarribee Council budgets.

"My question is why can't they put this into a budget? We're not saying for next year's budget, but why can't they put this into a future planning financial plan?" Mr Denford said.

He says council has said no to this: "No, they won't do that."

"I think we're the only village that doesn't have our own hall. In fact we're the only village that doesn't have a whole lot, so we feel like the forgotten village," Mr Denford said.

He claims council has only started to pay attention to Medway since the formation of its community association.

"But we exist," he said.

The community is made up of some 150 people including 40 families and about 63 homes.

A "Medway History" document supplied to Southern Highland News claims there was originally a large hall and library north of the railway line where the village was first located.

According to the document, in the late 1920s the site was evacuated due to increased noise from the mine. Homes that weren't relocated and other buildings were demolished. However, a few of the more substantial dwellings were moved by rollers to the new location south of the train line.

However, as the village grew so did the need for a community hall and recreational land.

The same historical document claims that in December 1937 after lobbying the local member to approach the then lands minister, two parcels of land were placed into the trust of the Medway Progress Association.

One of those parcels of land was for a public hall which the community, mostly miners, constructed over the next decade.

To this day the hall boasts beautiful hand-made concrete blocks by local miners, made while Australia was either at war, or recovering from war, and building materials were in very short supply.

The progress association doesn't want Medway to lose this piece of its history. And they want Wingecarribee Council to help them protect it.

In October, Wingecarribee Council's press department put out a media release celebrating the 30-year anniversary dance at Canyonleigh Hall.

The media release lauds the "continued long held tradition of enjoying an evening of dancing at the hall and sharing in fond memories".

Canyonleigh Hall was built by a group of dedicated local residents with "a vision for bringing their community closer together", according to council's spokesperson.

Administrator Viv May was also quoted as saying: "The community spirit in the room was really something special to be part of. It's a privilege for us to play a part in helping village communities to create places like this, that build community."

The Medway Community Association members say they're happy for Canyonleigh residents. However, it leaves them asking why they're not being offered the same opportunities?

Southern Highland News approached Wingecarribee Council for comment and was told: "Council has been working with Medway Community Association since June 2022 in relation to how to best move forward with the Medway Hall facility.

"The hall has been closed for the past 20 years, and saw minimal use in the 10 years prior to that, and so is in a heavily dilapidated state," council manager Shaun Robinson said.

"A condition inspection report by council officers concluded that the most appropriate course of action was for demolition of the facility and reactivation of the site through park furniture - however the Medway Community Association has passionately advocated for the remediation and reopening of the facility, even expressing a desire to largely complete the works themselves. To this end various management and infrastructure options have been investigated and it is envisaged that final outcome will be reach in the coming months."

Southern Highland News understands Mr May will meet with the Medway residents onsite on Sunday, November 26.

Former Wingecarribee councillor Ian Scandrett was at the community meeting in 2021 with Mr May and the Medway Community Association.

He said he was pleased with the commitment made by Mr May at that time "to having a working hall for this community".

"Every other village in the shire has an operating hall, but it appears the staff have not supported his decision for Medway," Mr Scandrett said.

"This needs to be remedied. Medway has the support of their MP Wendy Tuckerman, who indicated that council fund the new hall option was the best.

"The new hall at Penrose, which I fought for and which was also supported by Ms Tuckerman, will open shortly. Penrose is a similar size to Medway It received a Better Communities Grant and Medway Community Association could apply for grants with her and Wingecarribee Council's support. It must be a priority," he said.

On Tuesday, November 7 Ms Tuckerman told Southern Highland News that she had met with Medway residents.

"I am happy to support any funding application council or community see fit to apply for," Ms Tuckerman said.

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