Improvement at Gazebo Slope

A CROWD of about 40 people gathered at Caledonia Park, Ballan on the weekend to formally open a new track.

Organised by the Ballan Arboretum Group, works at the park began in 2021 with volunteers clearing weeds such as hawthorn and gorse from the slope leading up to the park’s gazebo.

The gazebo was hidden by weeds and had been vandalised, but thanks to the Arboretum Group, with financial support from Moorabool Wind Farm and community groups, the Gazebo Slope Project has recently been completed.

On May 11, close to 40 locals gathered to see the completed works.

Michael Ryan, former president of the Ballan and District Chamber of Commerce, which the Arboretum Group is a part of, said the works would have been impossible without grants, and the hard work of volunteers.

“On behalf of the committee I’d like to acknowledge the volunteers who worked on this project, which began with a working bee late last year: Colleen, Mary, Danny, Sylvia, Phil, Edith, Tony, Margaret, Lloyd, Patrick, Will, and Jane.

“When the work was being done, it became obvious we needed some professional help, we couldn’t do it all with working bees.

“Edith decided to apply for a grant from the Moorabool Wind Farm, for $11,000.”

The Ballan Quilt and Craft Show Group also donated about $9000 after folding, and another $3000 was left from the Ballan Rotary Club. Overall the cost of the project was $18,000.

Moorabool Shire Council also received thanks for sponsoring about 600 groundcover plants from Landcare, and helping with machinery for planting trees.

The municipality has also performed maintenance on the 100-year-old trees in the park, and given the gazebo a lick of paint.

History of the park was shared by founder of the Ballan Arboretum Group, Stephanie Day, and the group’s horticulturalist, Jane Dennithorne.

A ribbon was then cut to officially re-open the gazebo by Hawke federal member Sam Rae, who thanked those whose hard work and dedication had made the space a fantastic asset for the community.

“There’s a whole heap of work that Edith Paarhammer, secretary of the Ballan Chamber of Commerce, does across our community,” Mr Rae said.

“I think this is one example of the work that she and Tony do on behalf of our community.

“I’d also like to thank Michael Ryan for all he has done in his time with the Chamber and Arboretum Group.

“I live here in Ballan, and I’m almost a daily user of the park. I love this area. As a regular user of the space, I’ve seen the development of the project over time, and the work that goes on across the park.

“I can’t thank enough the volunteers that put in their own time and effort, and their families that support them to do so, in terms of maintaining this fantastic asset on behalf of our community.”

The Ballan Arboretum Group will meet for its next working bee on May 25 at 2pm, to plant spring bulbs.

For more information, head to the Ballan and District Chamber of Commerce website.