Macedonian Community of Manjimup receives $250,000 ahead of 60th anniversary

The Macedonian Community hall will receive a $250,000 facelift ahead of the organisation’s 60th anniversary, thanks to a State Government grant. it is hoped the upgrades to the hall, which will include a new outdoor entertainment area, will be complete before the anniversary celebrations next month. Club president Victor Grozotis said the club was happy to receive the grant, which would help the club committee and volunteer members preserve the Macedonian history in the South West region. “March marks the 60th anniversary since our inaugural committee was founded,” he said. “To mark this special occasion, we are officially acknowledging the family that donated the land on which our hall was built and holding a ceremonial tree planting for our founding fathers. “We’re hoping it will inspire the next generation of Australian Macedonians to carry on all these traditions.” The 150-member Manjimup club is considered one of the original Macedonian community settlements in Australia. It was established in the 1950s and the Macedonian Hall in town opened officially in 1987. The club’s focus is to provide a club for the Macedonian migrant community in Manjimup while educating and promoting the traditions, language, history and culture of Macedonia. “With the building of the hall in 1987, it allowed the Macedonian community to have its own centre where we could enjoy and continue having our traditional dances and functions, of which there were many enjoyable times over the years,” Mr Grozotis said. “We hope with this new funding we can continue to maintain our culture as the next generation of Macedonians raise their families in Manjimup.”