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Ken and Mary Clarke from Mason Clarke Preserving Company in Dimboola Picture: ANDY ROGERS

The Wimmera town of Dimboola is having a revival
IN ITS heyday, Dimboola’s theatre was the hub of the Wimmera community.

Source - SARAH HUDSON - November 4, 2015 - The Weekly Times

IN ITS heyday, Dimboola’s theatre was the hub of the Wimmera community. Built in 1924, it held the world premiere of the renowned 1979 movie Dimboola, based on the play of the town’s name.

In recent years, the privately owned Star Theatre fell out of public use. Until, that is, four years ago when locals Mary and Ken Clarke bought it, determined to revive it for community use.

The theatre is now receiving a makeover in preparation for Dimboola’s inaugural food festival in August next year.

“Who wouldn’t be excited by the idea of buying a theatre?” Mary says. “We bought it because I was connected to the idea of the theatre being used again as a community space.

“Ultimately I’d love to reinstate plays and movies and use it for events other than the festival, as there’s nothing in the main street for that sort of thing.”

Although she would shy from the suggestion, Mary is single-handedly reviving the Wimmera town, since moving there eight years ago.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -