Party plea!

By Rebecca Fraser
YOUNG people frustrated by Casey’s dying nightlife have launched a petition and the message is loud and clear — bring the party back to Hallam.
Berwick resident Shaun Thomas formed the new petition calling for the Hallam Hotel to be returned back to its former glory days.
He was sparked into action after this month’s closure of Furnace Nite Club at Fountain Gate further reduced the number of nighttime venues in the south-east.
More than 200 potential partygoers have added their names to the online petition that organisers hope will convince hotel management to again create a weekly nightspot for young people.
The petition also came as news surfaced that new Dandenong nightclub Pulse, had pulled the pin after only one night’s operation.
Club owners had hoped to attract the old Furnace crowd and provide a new entertainment venue to Casey’s youth but on Friday only about 100 partygoers travelled to the new nightspot for its opening night.
Club manager Steve Amundsen, this week said he was closing his doors after a heavy advertising campaign and the securing of popular band Adam 12 failed to net a strong enough crowd to warrant remaining open.
But manager of Hallam Hotel, Karen Stephens said there was entertainment at the venue on both Friday and Saturday nights, which was well received by the patrons.
“There is currently entertainment at the Hallam, but if some people aren’t happy with it, well its hard to please everyone isn’t it,” Ms Stephens said.
She said lots of people liked the alternative to a nightclub atmosphere and did not always want to dress up to nightclub standards. “We currently have an acoustic duo on Friday nights and a DJ in our sports bar on a Saturday night which both operate until 1am,” Ms Stephens said.
The petition is gathering public support and when the News logged on to the website signatures were constantly being submitted.
Support was recorded by people mainly living throughout the South East area with residents from Berwick, Narre Warren, Endeavour Hills and Cranbourne featuring prominently however residents from as far away as Mentone, Greensborough, Croydon and McKinnon have also expressed their support.
Comments posted on the petition called for the Hallam Hotel to return to the type of entertainment it provided three to four years ago and for more nightclub venues to be opened in the South East area.
In its glory days the Hallam Hotel attracted a strong crowd on Thursday, Fridays and Saturday nights and on public holiday eves.
Blitz nightclub in Berwick, who previously only operated on a Saturday night, also launched its Friday night venue last week to try and fill the void left by Furnace but was met with mixed success.
The News was unable to contact Mr Thomas before press time yesterday for further comment.
All people submitting their support have been asked to leave their contact details so they can be contacted if a possible protest is held to try and resurrect the once booming entertainment venue.
To sign the petition go to http://www.PetitionOnline.com/rehallam/petiton.html
Let us know what you think about calls for the Hallam to be reopened by posting a comment at http://www.starnewsgroup .com.au.