"We also have what we believe are the original form seats from the old church that used to be across the road," he said.
"They were donated when the hall was built and we'd like to repair and keep them rather than get new ones."
There was also work to do in the toilets where unfortunately in the men's loo, only a waist-high wall separated the urinal from the entrance of the room and it was not uncommon for people walking into the hall to clearly see men at work. The committee wanted to infill the wall to stop the exposure.
In total, the upgrade work the committee wanted to do to the hall would costabout $10,000 and the council had agreed to pay for half the work, providing the committee could show it would be able to cover the balance.
The hall had survived nearly seven decades of harsh weather, heavy use, and the odd would-be burglar, which in recent years forced the committee to install an alarm.
A charitable trust was set up to run the hall and the committee had worked hard during the past five years to bring its financial position out of the red.
Modern-day bureaucracy had put a stop to more traditional avenues of fundraising involving a social drink in the evenings, while escalating insurance costs and safety requirements made it difficult but not impossible to balance the books. But the hall continues to be used by the community almost every day of the week. It was also a popular venue for weddings, birthdays and rural balls.
"What we're trying to do now is get all of the trophies back from the community to display here at the hall in our trophy cabinet," Mr Burgess said.
"I know people were strong in badminton around here as well, we've got quite a good history in that sport.
"We've also had people contact us and offer to give back some old rifles, from the 1950s, that were used here in the rifle range underneath the hall."
Annual funding for rural halls
Tutira Community Hall, $1500, for repairs and plumbing of toilets, replacement of exterior doors.
Kereru Hall, $3278, to replace water-damaged carpet with vinyl in the front of the squash court and in the hallway leading to toilets.
Farndon Hall, Clive, $1100, for upgrade, including repaint of toilets and locker areas.
Te Awanga Community Hall, $1682, for water-blasting and repainting of exterior.
Shereden Hall, $2467, to sand and polyurethane the main hall area, repair electrical circuits.
Matapiro Memorial Hall, $600, for new pipe to upgrade water system.
Raukawa Hall, $5425, to repair and replace rusted roof, replace floor, repair seats, replace toilet windows and repaint toilet rooms, remove moss and mould from external walls and deck.
Poukawa Hall, $200, to replace cracked glass windows, repair sash windows, curtains for winter, sand and polyurethane floorboards.
