Over the next five years, the Friends of Athenium Theatre have a goal: ‘get it Greta ready’.
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Earlier this year, it secured a $48,800 injection from the state government’s Regional Cultural Fund to go towards improving lighting and sound.
Now a separate bid has been made for funding under round two of the Stronger Country Community Fund.
The result of the funding application will be known by the end of September.
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If successful the funding will go towards installing air conditioning units inside the 1920s era building.
Though in its absence, the theatre will continue to slowly fund its own way through major events like the bridal high tea on September 16.
Council recreational manager David Koren has been assisting the theatre in its funding applications. He believes the building will not be well utilised until its temperature is adjusted.
“We lose so many months of the year due to the environment. It’s blistering in summer and freezing in winter, it doesn’t make you want to come out to the show.”
Also on the restoration agenda is a new kitchen, and a landscaped outdoor arbor.
“It’s been in almost continuous use since it was built in 1929,” said Friends of the Athenium Theatre president Virginia Stewart.
“It’s real heyday was in about the 30s and 40s when people like Johnny O’Keefe performed [there]. I’m really looking forward to getting the big acts back.”
She has one performer in mind to seal the theatre’s return to glory.
Soprano singer Greta Bradman, granddaughter of famed cricketer and Cootamundra local Donald Bradman.
“She’s absolutely beautiful, if she performed here it would be unreal. It’d really show off what we can offer.”
Junee’s Athenium is one of only three remaining heritage theatres in the Riverina.
“There used to be one in every town, but it’s easy to pull down and not too easy to retain,” Ms Stewart said.
“We want to preserve that history here, it’s very precious,” said Ms Stewart.