An all-abilities community barbecue area has been officially opened at the Nilma North and Lillico Memorial Hall.

The opening, conducted by long time resident and hall committee president Colin Gray and former Baw Baw Shire councillor Darren Wallace, was a feature of the recent annual community barbecue.
Colin was elected president in 2018 following the death of former president Noel Renshaw. In November of that year, the committee decided to host a community barbecue, where it was suggested the area between the supper room and storage shed would be a good under cover barbecue area.
The late John Castle became involved in the project, supporting the committee with ideas and working out dimensions and costings for the projects.
Joy Ryrie researched for a suitable all abilities barbecue.
"With John's help and my online research regarding a suitable barbecue, I was able to present costings for a suitable construction and the cost of an all abilities barbecue to the 2019 May hall meeting," Joy said.
A sub-committee of Bill Sibson, Brian Cornwall, Mick Walsh and Archie Swan was established to investigate costings.
An initial $50,000 placemaking grant application in 2021 was unsuccessful but the committee did not give up.
During COVID lockdowns, the project was pursued via online meetings with the project manager and the committee was successful in its application for a $60,000 placemaking grant.
After four years and many delays, including three different project managers and many changes in staff at Baw Baw Shire, construction of the all abilities barbecue area finally began in September 2023.
The project was signed off in April this year.
There is still some work to be done to make the area more wind proof.
The hall committee also received generous support from the Warragul Lions Club and had a special table made that is suitable for people in wheel chairs.
The remainder of the Lions Club donation will be used to purchase suitable blinds when construction is completed.
Right: Former Baw Baw Shire councillor Darren Wallace was invited to officially open the all abilities barbecue area with hall committee president Colin Gray.