It offered a platform for local groups, clubs and services to showcase themselves to the community, while offering the public a place to connect to those organisations, and other local people.
One exhibitor was the Benalla Woodworking Association, knows locally as the Woodies.
Its president, Michael Kyval, said the expo gave it great exposure and resulted in some new members.
Traditionally it has been a club primarily made up of male members, so Mr Kyval was not expecting the majority of interest to come from local women.
“I was surprised by how many women stopped and asked questions and took the trouble to look,” he said.
“I would guess it was something like 70 per cent of people stopping to chat were females.
“And they were most interested in what we did and how we did it.”
Key outcomes from the expo include
- 85 per cent of stallholders were satisfied or very satisfied with the event.
- 90 per cent praised event communication and organisation.
- All said the expo met or exceeded expectations.
- 73 per cent formed meaningful new connections.
- Multiple groups reported new volunteers and member sign-ups.
- One group gained 10 new volunteers in a single day.
Mr Kyval said that while the group was started as a place for men to get together, it had always been open to women.
“We’ve got four or five members now that are ladies, and we hope to see more in the future.”
While the group has a focus on making and repairing wooden products, Mr Kyval said it offered members much more.
“We are very much an involved group where people can come and be a part of what we do while making friends,” he said.
“Our morning tea should be 10 minutes, but often it’s going for half an hour or more with people just chatting to each other.”
Mr Kyval said while many of its members are older, the group offered something to people of all ages.
“Older people come in and share their interest and knowledge of woodworking,” he said.
“The younger members can learn a lot from them.
“And we've just connected with the Benalla RSL, welcoming some of their members who might be (living with) PTSD.
“It gives them something to do, and can help get their heads back in the right place.”
The Woodies also welcome other groups from the Rose City.
“We have (disability inclusion) kids from local schools visit,” Mr Kyval said.
“We hold four workshops each year to show them what we do, and get them involved.
“We also have groups from Scope and Brick By Brick, and enjoy an opportunity to show them what we do.”
My Kyval said it was a great opportunity to be involved in the Creating Community Connections Expo, and believed it brought the group at least five new members.
He hopes the Woodies will be involved in the expo in 2026, but meanwhile he is on the lookout for new members, and funding for a new home for the group.
The Woodies have recently signed a 25-year lease on a block of land on Waller St, close to the Lions’ shed and Men’s Shed.
“We raise money through repairing items within the shed, for people who come in,” Mr Kyval said.
“But the amount of money we need to build the new shed is more than we’ll ever earn.
“So we’re hoping to get grants and benefactors to help fund that.
“I wrote letters to all the major corporations around Benalla and got a very poor response so far, unfortunately.
“But I’ll give that another go.”
In the meantime the Woodies are hoping local people, and businesses, will be in a position to assist financially.
“If anyone can help with that, or if they’re interested in joining, they can give me a call (0497 559 677) or pop down to the shed at Lowry Pl on a Wednesday or Sunday between 9am and noon.”
The 2025 Creating Community Connections Expo was presented by Benalla Rural City Council’s Benalla and District Social Inclusion Action Group and supported by the Victorian Department of Health.
The expo drew more than 60 local groups and service organisations, offering an interactive platform for community connection.
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