The Keilira precinct has always been a place for the small South East community to come together over a BBQ or even a game of social tennis but since a bushfire ravaged the area in 2019 it has been even more important.
And at the same time as farmers have been busy refencing and repasturing their properties the meeting space has also been renewed with a $265,000 grant from the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grant.
Last weekend the extended clubrooms and improved sporting facilities were opened.
Member for Barker Tony Pasin said the former Coalition government funding had provided a hub for the Keilira community, increasing opportunities to engage, collaborate and connect not only with each other but with other rural farming communities and host recovery and resilience activities.
"It may not have received the national or international attention of fires like Kangaroo Island but the impact of the Keilira fire on the local community in 2019 was equally as devastating," he said.
Often referred to as the 'forgotten fire', the Keilira blaze burnt through 25,000 hectares, destroyed three homes, hundreds of kilometres of fencing and killed 3000 sheep and 400 head of cattle.
Local resident Anthea Clarke says they are grateful to the Kingston District Council for putting in the successful application and managing the project, along with the former Coalition government for the funding.
"It was a big part of the recovery to have this central meeting place and for people to feel a part of it, " she said.
"We had a committee of four working on this but we made sure we took all the ideas back to the whole community."
She says their initial idea was to use the money to upgrade the toilets at the school which was closed in the late 1980s but chose instead to extend the clubroom footprint by adding a big shed with roller doors and concrete floor onto the original Acco hut.
"Tuesday nights we meet there with each family taking it in turns to bring the food," she said.
"Because it (the clubhouse) only held a few people most people were sitting outside and if it got cold everyone would just go home but now they sit around longer talking about farming."
Mrs Clarke says the facilities will be used more frequently with several residents already keen to hold their birthdays there.
"Some people weren't sure that we needed the money but now everyone can see the benefits and it is great to see the young ones wanting to play tennis and riding around the court," she said.
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