March 7, 2022
Flooded roads stopped some people attending the recent opening of Proston’s long-awaited soundshell – dubbed The Platform – but the wet weather didn’t dampen anyone’s enthusiasm.
The new structure was officially unveiled in Railway Park on February 27, capping off a two-year effort by the Proston and District Heritage Association to create an outdoor stage for the town.
The opening was accompanied by a three-day launch event led by Australian bush poet Marco Gliori.
Marco taught Proston P-10 State School students the finer points of Australian verse on Friday, and followed this with a workshop for townsfolk at Proston’s Community Hall on Saturday.
The weekend was topped off by a performance on the new stage on Sunday morning.
A significant part of the funding for the soundshell came from FRRR’s “Tackling Tough Times Together” drought relief grant program, which gave the PDHA $54,688 towards the project.
However, many other contributions also came from the broader community.
These included the structure’s round posts, which were contributed by the Dunlop family from Jingeri, and a hefty discount from Ransom’s Timber for the other wood used in the project.
AKR Builders also helped out with a bobcat to prepare the foundations and a donation of rustic tin sheeting used to line the building’s walls.
P&P Electrical wired up the lighting that makes the stage usable at night.
Russell Steer and Fiona Gill also contributed to the project, as did Murray Anderson who designed the sign that now hangs proudly on the soundshell’s rear wall.
PDHA Treasurer Linda Rea said the group was very pleased to bring the much-needed facility to the town.
They were also grateful for the support the project received from the South Burnett Regional Council, who processed the required paperwork and ensured electricity could be delivered to the stage area.
Linda said the FRRR grant application – which was prepared by PDHA president Nick Blanch and secretary Kathy Crane – may have provided the biggest single contribution but she was particularly touched by the support the project received from the wider community.
She said the group had opted for a “rustic look” when they designed the stage.
This was to ensure the building blended in with existing features in the park and its immediate area, such as the railway station building and the former Proston Butter Factory.
The soundshell’s name – “The Platform” – was also chosen to reflect the railway theme.
The only thing that has not been included in the project is a sound system, but performing artists will be able to plug in their own systems into The Platform’s electrics.
The soundshell was officially opened by Harry Dunlop, 11, who cut a pink ribbon supplied by Cr Kathy Duff.
[Photos: Kathy Duff]
