MAINTAINING the impressive Avenue of Honour is no small feat.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks 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,\u201d BRI landscape coordinator David Lee said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI find it safer with just the two guys working on the project, because it\u2019s along the highway, they stick together, they have a routine and the job gets done properly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Howden added, \u201cWe have to do all of the digging, grinding and repairing by hand, it\u2019s just the two of us and we love this project.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Recently the committee received $6800 from the State Government to replace, repair and reinstall the plaques as part of Restoring Community War Memorials fund.<\/p>\n
Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison said she was proud to support a project that maintains such an important commemorative avenue.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you think about the significance of this not only for Ballarat but for the whole of Australia, it is an incredible avenue of significance,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Mr Snowden added, \u201cThis year\u2019s program cost a bit over $8000, so on top of the $6800 we had to fund a little bit from the committee, it\u2019s great when we can get a grant.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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. \u201cThanks to the council, we got involved with this project so many years ago, I taught Sam […]<\/p>\n