Modella Hall

The original Modella Hall was built in 1924 on land donated by Athol Camp and destroyed by fire in November 1976. Community fund raising for a new hall began just one week later and the new hall was opened on 20th April 1979 by Arthur Dawson (a member of the Modella Hall Committee), and assisted by Athol Camp.

AEA Camp plaque

Transcription

In appreciation of / the generosity of AEA Camp / who donated the hall site / and built the original hall / in 1925.

Opening Ceremony plaque

Transcription

This hall / was officially opened by / A Dawson / on 20^th April, 1979 / and was erected through the efforts / of / the local community

Honour Roll

According to the Program for the Reunion and Farewell to Modella Primary School on Saturday 27th November 1993, the Honour Roll was presented to the Modella Hall Committee and the Time Capsule was re-located to the Hall.

Transcription

Modella / Honour Roll / 1939 – 1945

L Bridge / E Fisher / R Fisher / W Fisher / G Garner / W Glasson / J Hawkey / R Hawkey / L Jeffrey / Mary Lineham / F Lugton / G Lugton* / C McDermid / J Rogers / SJ Rogers / H Vaughan / J Wells / W Woodall

*killed in action

Donated by Jim & Flo Rogers

Modella Primary School plaque

Transcription

Modella / Primary School / No. 3456 / Opened: 1^st April, 1903 / Closed: 17^th December, 1993 / Was situated 60 metres / to the south of this hall.

Time Capsule plaque

Transcription

Time capsule / to mark / Victoria’s 150^th Anniversary / 1984-85 / To be opened 2034-35

Tree plaque

Modella Primary School’s Reunion and Farewell Program tells us that this tree was planted by Reg Purvis, his daughter Diane and her children.

Transcription

This tree planted on / 27^th November 1993 is / to symbolise the trees / planted at the back-to / Modella Celebrations on 25^th March 1966 / and on many Arbor Days / at this School

Flight Sergeant Reginald Gordon Lugton

We were extremely fortunate on the day we visited the Modella Hall to have met Dorothy Goodman and Dick Martin who shared their memories of the Modella School and Hall with us. When the school closed, the building was relocated and the land sold. The old school site is now privately owned, however, with the permission of the property owner, Dorothy and Dick took our volunteers to see a special tree planted in the former school grounds in the 1940s in memory of Flight Sergeant Reginal Gordon Lugton, Dorothy’s brother. There is no plaque at the site, but Dorothy and Dick remember the day the tree was planted although they couldn’t give us a date, Dick thinks he was about 6 or 7 years old at the time and Dorothy believes she was about 10.

Reginald Lugton, a RAAF Wireless Operator was on duty in a Halifax Bomber that crashed in Yorkshire, England while returning from a sortie. He is buried in Harrogate, Yorkshire. Dick Martin was living next door to the Post Office at the time and remembers Mrs Moffat, the Post Mistress, who was about 80 years of age having to get out of bed and deliver the telegram to the Lugton family. Reginald was only 20 years old, before he enlisted he worked at Mr Fletts General Store in Longwarry.

Both Dorothy and Dick’s families have had a long association with Modella, Dorothy’s mother, served as Secretary of the Modella School Council for over 20 years and both Mr and Mrs Lugton are mentioned in Graham Utber’s book as having served the community of Modella for over 50 years. Our volunteers, Fay and Anne felt very priviledged indeed to have been able to meet Dorothy and Dick and to be told the story of Flight Sergeant Reginald Gordon Lugton and other memories that Dick and Dorothy shared and we thank them for their time and interest.

References:

• Bunyip and Garfield Express, Thursday 26 April 1979.
• Modella: A brief history by Graham Utber
• Modella Hall [MIV file] Prahran Mechanic’s Institute
• Interview with Dorothy Goodman (nee Lugton) and Dick Martin

Modella VIC, Australia