The old School of Arts hall, where the GLaM is now, was the centre of all social activities in Gerringong for many years.

Whenever there was a 21st birthday, engagement party, dinner dance, celebration night after Gerringong had won a premiership in sport or any other great social occasion, it was held in this building.

My personal memory of this wonderful building was that it was for many years, the Scout and Guide Hall.

Many a splinter was picked up sliding on the floor during games.

But after the end of the Second World War, it was felt that a new, larger and more solid building was needed to reflect the progress our town was making.

So, it came to be that a proposal was put forward by the Mayor G.E. Chittick and the Town Clerk A.M. Trevallion to gauge the interest from the community.

There was certainly enough interest. This proposal was sent out in 1946 and here is a ticket to the Grand Civic Ball to commemorate the opening of the hall in November 1948 by J.J. Cahill just two years later.

The tickets cost five shillings, about 50 cents.

Gerringong Town Hall has been a centrepiece of the town ever since.

Any person living in Gerringong after the end of the war would have fond memories of going to functions there.

My personal favourites were going to the pictures and performing in the school play in the last term of the year at Gerringong Public School, which, at the time, was just next door.

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