The official opening was also live broadcast to the Rotary Club of Northbridge, Sydney who had contributed $22,500 in partnership with the Rotary Clubs of Bega, Merimbula and Pambula towards the $45,000 project.

Cr Tapscott said Kiah had been badly hit by the bushfires, the community felt they were not getting the support they needed and that concern went all the way up to Bega and beyond.

"This pavilion is not just iron and a concrete slab but a manifestation of what our communities can do for each other in times of crisis," Cr Tapscott said.

"This is not a well-heeled community but this shines as a beacon. We can only be grateful that people living in Sydney thought about people living here that much, to give that amount of money."

Merimbula Rotarian Andy Thorp said local Rotarians were aware that Kiah had lost its church hall and meeting place and were keen to help. After a meeting at the RFS shed in March a plan was produced for a pavilion with sinks and a barbecue.

"It's not going to take the place of a hall but it will work in with the hall," Mr Thorp said in reference to plans to see the hall that was lost in the bushfires, rebuilt.

In an email to Mr Thorp and read out at the opening, president of Northbridge Rotary Kevin Tattrie said "our hearts and thoughts are with you all".

Kiah resident Clare McMahon said building the pavilion had lifted everyone's spirits.

"We feel we're not quite at the end of the earth, but you can see it from here," Ms McMahon joked.

She has been a driving force is collecting views on where and how the replacement hall should be built and thanked councillors for their unanimous vote to purchase the land from the church so that a hall could be rebuilt using the insurance money.

"I'd like to see it built before I get to my use by date. We want a budget that will build a community centre," Ms McMahon said.

The community has already raised close to to $30,000 to put towards the insurance money.