After the curtain was donated by an anonymous benefactor, it was left to the committee to have it installed in the building.

However, work on the Athenium stage – or the proscenium – was needed.

An estimate provided to the Friends of the Athenium put the cost of installing the curtain at more than $74,000.

But a close inspection of the Building Code of Australia revealed a variation for NSW which meant several requirements were not applicable for the Athenium as the stage is less than 150 square metres.

The variation has meant the work – completed by local businesses and by donation – has cost just under $25,000.

“We’re really excited about this, there is so much potential,” FotA secretary Barbara Manwaring said.

“With the curtain we will now be able to host movies on a regular basis,” she said.

Junee Shire Council’s development director Ralph Tambasco has kept a close eye on work at the building and said it has complied with regulations.

The addition of the curtain will be the second run of renovations and improvements to the building after stage one was completed last year.

“Any contributions other than council’s are welcome,” Junee Shire Council general manager Greg Campbell said.

He said it was the community which would make the building an asset and it was good to see it being used.

“Council has nothing budgeted (for the Athenium) for the foreseeable future,” he said.

The Athenium is one of the venues for the upcoming Rhythm ‘n’ Rail Festival with the Australian Army Band Kapooka set to perform on March 3.

Last year when the Kapooka band visited Junee – it was a sell-out performance and it is again expected to raise the roof for the festival.

During the festival the film, The Crossing, starring Russell Crowe and many of Junee’s residents will be shown.

FotA is planning for future work and more additions to the building and will begin fundraising to help reach its goals, helping its cause is a decision by the Australian Tax Office to provide the group with a tax-free exemption.

It means future donations to the committee will be tax deductible if they are over $2.

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