Welcome to Mt Benson – Population 111, hosting its first Small Halls event at the Mt Benson Hall in 2020.
The Mt Benson Hall is located on the highway between Robe and Kingston in the lower south east region of South Australia. The hall, built of local stone by stone mason Doug Holme and assisted by volunteers, is owned and managed by the Mt Benson community.
George Nunan laid the foundation stone and the building was completed in 1920. Soon after the hall building was completed it was leased by the Education Department with formal lessons commencing in early 1921. The school relocated in 1942.
The Hall has played a fundamental role in community life. It is a central hub which draws the community together. Over recent times many improvements have been made to the original hall. Fond and fun childhood memories are still talked about when the community come together.
2020 is the Hall Centenary and the Festival of Small Halls event launches a celebration calendar of events for the community.
Festival of Small Halls Mount Benson will be supported by Barry Medwell. Barry Medwell is a self taught musician. He accompanies himself on guitar. He is better known as a secondary Maths Science teacher at the local R-12 school and has associations with the Mt Benson District as his mother lived in the area for a number of years as a child.
Barry’s love of music started in his early years, where his parents enjoyed listening to music at home. However, he only commenced singing when he started his teaching career at Kingston Community School, where he fondly remembers entertaining friends in ski chalets at the end of a long day of skiing during school holidays. It was during these times Barry realised the positive impact his music had on others, particularly when he personalized lyrics to suit audiences.
Barry loves country music where music and words weave pictures in people’s minds about the challenges and beauty of living in a wonderful country like Australia. He has performed with the Kingston Community Theatre Group in a number of musicals, at school assemblies, a variety of community celebrations and enjoys local open mic sessions. Barry is looking forward to pursuing his love of music further and is enthusiastic about performing at the Mount Benson Hall for the opening of its Centenary Year.
Festival of Small Halls rolls into Mount Benson on Thursday, 12 March 2020 with critically-acclaimed Scottish ensemble The Paul McKenna Band and emerging Australian singer-songwriter Alana Wilkinson.
Mount Benson Hall stands on lands traditionally owned by the Mootatunga people.
Tickets available online here
Doors Open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start