Peter and Vera Fisher recalled the cabarets in the hall.
It was just over 100 years in the making.
Past friends and residents gathered at the Monavale Hall, between Te Awamutu and Cambridge, in mid-April to celebrate the centenary of a building which cost all of £150 to erect.
The Monavale Settlers Association spent four years planning the event, which also marked the latest hall upgrade.
Those features include an extra toilet facility, painting of the interior and installing a large french door on the eastern side which provides sweeping views over the adjacent tennis court and the hills beyond.
Carole Searle, association secretary, spoke of the early years – when £150 was a considerable amount of money – quoting from the minute books of 1911 and highlighting the social occasions, card evenings, table tennis, engagement functions, dances and annual the children’s Christmas party. She also read the thoughts of David Smith, an older resident who was away.
Warwick Roberts followed with a presentation on the building of the hall – he is a long-time former resident and grandson of the foreman of the original building team.
Peter and Vera Fisher, also former residents, spoke of their involvement in hall activities – and the building the supper room and cabarets with Gordon Brunskill on the piano.
Robyn Place spoke of her parents Francis Searle and Margaret, nee Williamson meeting at the hall and, in 1954 being among fellow school pupils to see Queen Elizabeth drive past.
Russell Goodwin, whose grandfather donated the site of the hall, cut the celebration cake.
Hall facts
The hall was opened on June 22, 1922 and records say it was originally part of the Walker and Douglas lands known as the Moana-Tua-tua Estate.
Mesdames Giles and Gibson raised “the princely sum” of £150 to build the hall.
Residents wished at the time of construction that “we could buy heart matai at 39/6 pence for 100 super feet or heart totara for 42 shillings now”.
Harry Giles, initially a cobbler, was selected as foreman of works owing to his experience of having built a number of homes in the district.
The site of one quarter acre was donated by Mr H Goodwin.
A northern extension to the hall was completed about 1966.
The dances were something to behold with Gordon Brunskill’s band the centre of attention.
The hall belongs to the community and is managed by an incorporated society.
Russell Goodwin cut the celebration cake.
