Trust gives to Avenue tree appeal

FOLLOWING October’s destructive storm, the Arch of Victory-Avenue of Honour committee launched an appeal to repair and replace damaged and destroyed trees along Ballarat’s Avenue.

Earlier this week, the committee gratefully received a very big donation to the appeal; $50,000 from the Lillingston Charitable Trust.

Arch of Victory-Avenue of Honour committee president Garry Snowden was amazed by the generous gift.

“This just highlights how important the Avenue is to Ballarat, and particular people in Ballarat who have strong and proud family connections with the Avenue,” he said.

“This will cover a substantial part of replacing the 62 destroyed trees, and I’ve been advised that the State’s disaster management fund will fund a major part of the clean-up costs.

“The 62 trees have to be cut up, removed, and the sites have to be restored.”

The species that will be planted are yet to be determined, as there is a heritage overlay. It’s expected that the project will ramp up in the Autumn.

Mr Snowden said the Avenue is a space where families have always come to remember their fallen loved ones when they couldn’t visit their graves in Europe, so it’s important the community takes ownership and looks after it.

The Lillingston Charitable Trust supports causes in the name of the late Irene and Les Lillingston, a ‘Lucas girl’ and Rat of Tobruk respectively.