A cultural community hall in Gippsland has just received a much-needed makeover, thanks to a standout community project led by TAFE Gippsland’s painting and decorating team and supported by the Dulux Trade Centre in Traralgon.
In 1970, six Croatian families residing in Gippsland came together with the common goal of creating a cultural space where they could maintain their heritage, language, cuisine, practice their traditions and engage with wider community groups.
A year later, they purchased a plot on which this social union could gather. With the assistance of the Latrobe Valley community, they were able to move the Scouts Hall from Yallourn to Airfield Road in Traralgon, which would serve as the physical structure of the Gippsland Croatian Association (GCA) – a not-for-profit organisation that’s been promoting Croatian and Australian community participation across the Latrobe Valley and Victora for the past five decades.
Fifty-four years later, the GCA is getting a much-need makeover, thanks to a standout community project led by TAFE Gippsland’s painting and decorating teacher Davin Nicholas and supported by his colleagues Sam Reid and Michael Wardle.
Building Trades Program Manager Dave Stone said the collaboration between TAFE Gippsland, Dulux Trade Centre, Traralgon and the GCA is a great result for the community.
“As part of our second-year apprentice airless spray-painting course, the painting and decorating team planned and dedicated three days to paint the inside of the GCA hall, allowing the students to get real life experience without creating extra work for them,” Dave said.
“We also had support from Rebecca Mangion, Store Manager of Dulux Trade Centre in Traralgon who sponsored the project with paint, equipment, and expertise. It was a tremendous effort demonstrated by Davin, Sam and Michael in completing this project. Their ongoing dedication to supporting the community, TAFE Gippsland, and local painters truly goes above and beyond. This initiative not only provided our students with the opportunity to enhance their skills through real-time work but also allowed us to give back to a community organisation that has contributed significantly to the Latrobe Valley.”
In the late 70s, the GCA had their own soccer team, ran tournaments, operated discos for the youth, traditional Croatian Folk dancing, Karate classes, Croatian school, church masses, ran summer picnics and had monthly dinner dances. Today, they welcome participation from other cultural communities and other Croatian Centres in Victoria to all their gatherings, conduct regional bus tours and cooking classes.
Teacher Davin Nicholas said the team enjoyed the experience working on such a meaningful project.
“Not only did this give our students the opportunity to improve their skills doing real-time work, but it was also great to be able to give our time and expertise for a community organisation who has given so much to the Latrobe Valley,” Davin said.
“We hope the GCA like what we’ve done with the place and that they can continue to utilise the hall for many years to come.”
The GCA is immensely appreciative of the TAFE Gippsland team’s “professional and amazing job”, saying “The new paintwork has brightened and freshened up the hall which will provide a welcoming environment for our members and the Gippsland Community for many years to come.”
Dulux Traralgon Store Manager Rebecca Mangion thanked Davin and team for all their hard work.
“Dulux Traralgon and Dulux group look forward to working together with the TAFE Gippsland and student apprentices’ program more in the future and look forward to helping progress and educate the next upcoming painting apprentices,” Rebecca concluded.
The Gippsland Croatian Association renovation crew: (L-R) Davin Nicholas (TAFE Gippsland, Painting & Decorating Teacher), Leni Gliponeo (Shaw Painters, Traralgon), Jake Golding (Drouin Painting Services, Drouin) , Noah Bennett (Jarrod Ryan Painting, Moe, Bryson Savage (McGraths Painting, Moe), Austin Fulford (Parer Painting, Maffra), Kaeden Neame (MSD Painting, Moe) and Ethan Killeen (Missen Right Painting, Traralgon).