New scouts hall for Epping North

Member for Thomastown Bronwyn Halfpenny and Minister for Youth Ros Spence were joined by Epping North Scout Group at the sod turning event for their new hall (Supplied).

Minister for Youth Ros Spence was joined by Member for Thomastown Bronwyn Halfpenny on Friday, May 13 to turn the sod at the site of the new Epping North Scout Hall.

The organisation received $600,000 in funding from the state government for the hall.

The new hall will be built on the grounds of Edgars Creek Secondary School as part of the Labor government’s $5.5 million election commitment in 2018 to build, upgrade or refurbish scout halls across Victoria.

The project is scheduled to be completed in March 2023.

Minister for Youth Ros Spence said she was pleased to be supporting such an organisation.

“An investment in scouting is an investment in our future young leaders – we’re proud to be supporting young people to develop skills and make friends for life.”

“This new hall will ensure that young people in the community have an accessible place to connect with their friends and to safely participate in the proud traditions of scouts.”

Member for Thomastown Bronwyn Halfpenny said the investment meant a new hall for the scouts to utilise.

“I’m proud of our continued support for scout groups, this funding means that scouts here in Wollert will have a modern new facility to call home.”

Scouts Victoria has a membership base of more than 20,000 youth and has seen an increase of participants by 30 per cent in the last 10 years.