Keeping up the Avenue

MAINTAINING the impressive Avenue of Honour is no small feat.

Workers from Ballarat Regional Industries, including Sam Howden and Matt Johnston have done the task for years and know just what it takes to get the job done.

“Thanks to the council, we got involved with this project so many years ago, I taught Sam and Matt and they took over the project after I got a bit busy a few years ago,” BRI landscape coordinator David Lee said.

“I think we’ve been doing this for around 20 years around this time of the year near ANZAC day when we first got involved with fixing all the plaques.

“I find it safer with just the two guys working on the project, because it’s along the highway, they stick together, they have a routine and the job gets done properly.”

Mr Howden added, “We have to do all of the digging, grinding and repairing by hand, it’s just the two of us and we love this project.”

To inform the repairs, the Avenue of Honour Committee members complete audits of the 3801 plaques at least twice annually, along the 22 kilometres of the longest commemorative avenue in Australia.

President of the Avenue of Honour Committee Garry Snowden said every year we replace or maintain a variety of plaques because of either weathering or damages.

“This year, we had to replace or maintain around 75 of the plaques, some are damaged and can be repaired on site and some need to be fully replaced,” he said.

Recently the committee received $6800 from the State Government to replace, repair and reinstall the plaques as part of Restoring Community War Memorials fund.

Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison said she was proud to support a project that maintains such an important commemorative avenue.

“When you think about the significance of this not only for Ballarat but for the whole of Australia, it is an incredible avenue of significance,” she said.

Mr Snowden added, “This year’s program cost a bit over $8000, so on top of the $6800 we had to fund a little bit from the committee, it’s great when we can get a grant.”