Milestone celebration for town’s reserve

THE Clarendon community has gathered to celebrate 150 years of their recreation reserve.

At an event held last Saturday, community members reminisced on their lives in the town and trees were planted representing families who have lived in Clarendon over the last 150 years.

The history of Clarendon Reserve dates to 1871 when the local cricket club applied for 14 acres of common land to become a cricket ground.

The request was approved, and the reserve was opened on 30 October 1874, before a committee of management was elected in 1878.

Following World War Two, tennis became more popular and permission was granted in 1947 to build a court in the middle of the reserve.

The reserve now includes a hall that was built following the 2015 bushfires, tennis courts, fencing and a playground which is soon to be opened.

Committee president Trevor Smith said last Saturday’s event was about bringing the district’s residents, new and old, together.

“A lot of the older residents have moved on,” he said.

“There’s not many of the original members here and because we have no school or hall or church, this is sort of the only focal point for Clarendon now.”

Don Low was a teacher in Clarendon in 1960 and 1961 who boarded with local families.

He said it was great to see the reserve now and look back on the past.

“It was my first school in my teaching career… I boarded with families, so I got to know them like a family member,” Mr Low said.

“It’s a good start that they have all this here… I think it’s a good thing that’s going to be more and more important for future generations.”