Talking tree stars at Tailem Bend Station Master’s House reopening
A community milestone 20 years in the making has been achieved thanks to the local community centre and its partners.
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After 20 long years of standing empty, the historic Station Master’s House on Railway Terrace, Tailem Bend has had its official reopening.
The major milestone for the Tailem Bend community came at 10.30am on Friday.
Initiated by the Tailem Bend Community Centre, the Station Master's House open day was a celebration of the dedication and hard work of the centre’s staff, volunteers and local tradespeople who transformed the house and its surrounds into a thriving community hub.
The opening showcased the house’s new purpose as an extension to the Tailem Bend Community Centre, which will primarily house the offices of the Murray Mallee Community Passenger Network.
The celebration featured the unveiling of a stunning art installation: Pinar the Canoe Tree, an animated and interactive tree that highlights the must-see attractions of the region.
Leading up to the event, volunteers and community members contributed by preparing the house and its grounds.
Kaye Zadow of Wellington East baked her famous scones, while others set up the house and cleaned the space for the special occasion.
The gardens, boasting innovative wicker garden beds for vegetable growing, stood out as one of the community’s key achievements.
The CEO of the Tailem Bend Community Centre, Tammy Shepherd, has been overwhelmed by the amount of support for the venture.
Denise McLoughlin prepares flowers and Tim Overett prepares plants for wicking beds before Tammy Shepherd addresses the crowd at the reopening. Photos: Glenn Power.
“We could not have done this without the generous funding from the Department of Human Services, and the kind contributions from both the Coorong District Council and SA Power Networks,” she said.
Val and John Sparrow, of Tailem Bend, kindly donated a framed painting of the Station Master’s House to the soon-to-be fully restored community hub.
The opening concluded with a delightful morning tea of homemade scones with jam and cream, leaving everyone feeling inspired and excited for the future of this iconic new community space.
With a great turnout and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, the gathering set the tone for many more successful Tailem Bend Community Centre events to come.
Trevor Gordon admires the house's ornate features, Mel Reu sets up an office and Val Sparrow donates a painting of the Station Master's House. Photos: Glenn Power.
