The original Labertouche community hall dates back almost a century and like its community has been through thick and thin. Later rebuilt in 1961, it survived unscathed through the Black Saturday bushfires, where it was used as a rally point by locals escaping fire near their property. The CFA also used it as a staging ground to fight bushfires as recent as three years ago.

Built on top of a swamp, rot, and roof leaks meant the hall was in desperate need of repairs. The state government and Baw Baw Shire Council pledged more than $150,000 towards a roof, ceiling, and floor refurbishment, which have now been completed.

Labertouche Community Centre president and badminton player Trevor Ottrey said the hall was vital during fire emergencies. “The community majorly changed after the 2009 bushfires, Black Saturday here,” he said.

“People who lived up in bush came down because they weren’t feeling safe up there, so a lot of people vacated the community and left but other people actually slept down around the area,” Mr Ottrey said.

The funding came as part of the Labor Government’s Community and Facility Fund which has supported 232 projects across the region and aims to improve facilities.

“Halls like this provide a great, welcoming place for people to come together,” Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing said. The hall is used for weddings, funerals, art shows, school plays, and as the Labertouche Badminton Club’s home courts.

The hall has even raised a commonwealth games champion. Previous member Michael Scandolera won the gold medal for mixed doubles at the 1986 games in Scotland and trained as a boy in the community hall.

The badminton club has two junior and three senior teams. “We play against Warragul, Drouin, and Ellinbank and we actually do quite well as a small club out here,” Mr Ottrey said.