By ANEEKA SIMONIS
UPPER Yarra Museum will extend its collection of commemorative tree guards ahead of the Anzac centenary next year.
Having already planted 25, hundreds of new trees will flank the Warburton Trail where local soldiers left for and returned from World War I.
Yarra Ranges councillor Jim Childs said many local volunteers and groups had got together to make sure the memorial was done properly in recognition of those who served during the war.
“These people gave the ultimate sacrifice for World War I.
It’s appropriate we have somewhere to properly remember them.
“We are working with the museum and the Upper Yarra Valley Historical Society (UYVHS) to plan it out properly, so we can have a memorial that is going to last a long time,” Cr Childs said.
The museum is unsure how many lives will be remembered in the tree memorial along the Warburton Trail, but museum volunteer Dawn Cantwell said they had already collected information about 580 local people who served in the war both at home and away.
The research, which has taken around three to four years, will be available on the museum’s website to allow greater access to family history information.
“The advantage of having the information online is that our children plus people doing family research can access and contribute to the family history of those enlisted for the Upper Yarra area,” museum volunteer Rhonda Simmonds said.
Engaging with younger generations is an important goal of the museum, said Cr Childs, who had watched Anzac Day crowds increase tenfold in Upper Yarra over the past 10 years.
“Over the last decade, interest in Anzac ceremonies has grown locally. There is a huge amount of history here and our young people are part of keeping that alive.
“Ten years ago there was about 80-100 people but there is probably now 800 people who come down for the dawn service,” he said.
Along with the Upper Yarra RSL’s contribution to the growing memorial, Cr Childs said local efforts had been invaluable.
“Contributions from local people have been done in kind including from people in the timber industry who have provided the timber and facilities to saw the timber,” Cr Childs said about the tree guards.
“We are all on the same page working together for a great outcome.”
The museum intends to collaborate with the Warburton and Woori Yallock community to remember those who may have enlisted from that area ahead of next year’s centenary service.
