Memorial garden officially named

ALFREDTON’S Garden of the Grieving Mother has been officially named, with a sign funded by the Arch of Victory-Avenue of Honour Committee installed last week.

The established green space was designed by Caitlyn Perry and is home to a sculpture by Peter Corlett which depicts a bereaved mother, acknowledging the families of fallen or missing servicepeople.

It was installed by the committee and unveiled by then Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove in 2017.

“The statue and its surrounding garden were gifted… to the citizens of Ballarat under the management of the City council,” said committee president Garry Snowden.

“Council staff do a great job maintaining and presenting the Arch precinct, but we’ve always intended for the garden area to be clearly named.

“It’s a precinct that Ballarat is very proud of, and the name just adds another positive dimension to it.

“Ballarat has Australia’s longest avenue of honour, which commemorates the service of 3801 men and women whose service was predominantly on the other side of the world.

“The Garden of the Grieving Mother serves to draw thoughts back to what was happening, and what was being felt at home at that time when 759 of those commemorated lost their lives.”