Overpass service to honour sacrifice

THIRTY-six Ballarat men were killed in the first week of October 1917 while fighting in Passchendaele, Belgium during World War One.

These servicemen are all honoured with a plaque and tree along Ballarat’s Avenue of Honour, and a special commemorative event will acknowledge their sacrifice early next week.

On Sunday, 2 October at 2pm, the Arch of Victory-Avenue of Honour Committee will lead a remembrance service at the Ballarat Avenue of Honour Overpass in Burrumbeet.

Sixty-two Avenue trees were destroyed in a fierce windstorm in October last year, and at the service, the committee and attendees will take the opportunity to mark the completion of the resulting tree restoration project, which has taken place over the last 12 months.

“This will be our chance to acknowledge and thank all those who have, in one way or another, contributed to the restoration, while also remembering a week that had a profound impact on Ballarat 105 years ago,” Arch of Victory-Avenue of Honour Committee president Garry Snowden said.

The last seven trees needing to be replaced after the storm will also be ceremonially planted by members of Ballarat’s 8th/7th Battalion Royal Victoria Regiment.

“We will see current servicemen honouring World War One soldiers by replanting their trees,” Mr Snowden said.

A cheque covering the costs of replanting the 62 trees will be presented by the committee to the City of Ballarat.

The Ballarat Avenue of Honour begins at the Arch of Victory, curves around by Lake Burrumbeet to run north-south under the Western Highway and finishes at the Weatherboard cairn.

Memorial elements are incorporated into the overpass’ design, and informative signage is on site.