At 1.30am in November, a group of scouting families watched in horror as fire from an arsonist's attack destroyed their beloved Diamantina Scout Hall despite the best efforts of firefighters.
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That was close to five years ago, this week marked a new beginning for the group when they gathered to watch the first sod turned on the site of a new hall at Kaleen.
The journey was far from easy.
Asbestos in the ex-RAAF hall meant the building had to be demolished and underinsurance meant the S
But thanks to a concerted fundraising effort and support from other organisations, the group will soon have a purpose-built hall to call home.
Rebuild committee member Sam Cavalli said knowledge that the fire was deliberately lit by juveniles, later caught by police, did make it worse for the group.
"Particularly for some of our younger youth members, that was some of the main questions they asked of leaders 'why did they do this to us? What did we do to them?'," he said.
"But it was just one of those things. It hasn't stopped us from continuing to provide scouting services to the Kaleen community."
Since the fire, the Scouts have operated out of University of Canberra High School in Kaleen thanks to support from its principal Denis Dickinson.
But Mr Cavalli said having their own hall would make a huge difference to the group's 60 youth members, who looked forward to having space to set up equipment and put memorabilia on the walls.
"It's going to be much newer ... a little bit warmer, better suited to the Canberra climate and a bit more practical," he said.
"It's also about being able to provide to the community another facility available for them.
"Scouting is about being a community organisation and our values are about ... being inclusive for all people and giving back to the community and volunteering."
Mr Cavalli said much of the group's history went up in flames along with the hall, but some pieces of memorabilia were salvaged.
"Our current Scout president's husband had been a Joey there, Cub, Scout, Adventurer, Rover and his dad had helped build the original scout hall," he said.
The Scouts ACT Branch contributed $60,000 towards the rebuild to go with more than $20,000 raised by the group and about $30,000 worth of in-kind work.
"The last piece of the puzzle was a $20,000 grant from the Rotary Club of Belconnen," he said.
Shaw Building Group will build the hall and several businesses donated products including white goods and a new kitchen.
The group will now turn its attention to seeking funds and donations for the hall's fit out and landscaping.
To assist contact Sam Cavalli via cavalli@grapevine.com.au or the group's treasurer via diamantina.treasurer@gmail.com.
