Introduction
The Wingecarribee Shire Council has approved
the establishment of a Vietnam War Memorial and
associated cherry Tree Walk in the Mittagong
Rivulet Reserve at Bowral NSW.
>There are very few monuments to the men and
women who served this country during the Vietnam
War and the concept of an environmental memorial
known as the 'cherry Tree Walk, is considered a
fitting tribute to the gallant few who served this
country during that conflict.
The Cherry Tree Walk
An avenue of cherry trees will be planted, one
to commemorate each Australian who died in the
service of their country during that tragic
conflict.
The trees will be planted on either side of a
cycle/walking track with rest areas specifically
designed to accommodate family picnics. A large
section of parkland has been set aside for
ceremonial purposes.
Incorporated into the design of the Memorial
will be a Monument, inscribed with the names of
the Australians who gave their lives in the
service of their country.
They served their country with honour'
|
|
Bowral
Bowral is approximately 130 kms from Sydney,
the capital city of NSW. It is a peaceful rural
area that has many attractions to offer the
visiting tourist. Known world wide for its famous
Tulip Time Festival and beautiful gardens, it is a
worthy town to hold such a significant memorial
designed especially to bring comfort to the
veterans of the war and their families.
The Vietnam Memorial is initiated by the Bowral
Parks and Gardens Advisory Committee and supported
by the Rotary and Lions Clubs of the Wingecarribee
Shire.
|
|
The walk commences at the Settlers Park
entrance to the Mittagong Rivulet Reserve at the
foot of Mt Gibraltar in Bowral.
Part of the original land grant to the Oxley
family, the area has considerable historical
significance to the early European settlement of
Australia.
|
[Above] John Cummings (Royal Australian
Regiment, Coral) plants a white cherry tree as a
part of the cherry Tree Walk in Bowral,
commemorating those who died in Vietnam. (Bowral
News 26 May 1996)
|
The Tree
The beautiful 'great white' cherry, Prunus'Tai
Haku' is a vigorous, healthy specimen with large
white blossoms in spring and brilliantly coloured
leaves in autumn. It is considered to be one of
the best flowering cherries and ideally suited to
this district
The trees for the Memorial will be contract
grown in nurseries and planted in the Walk when
they reach a size of 3 metres.
The trees will be well tended and maintained to
ensure healthy growth is established.
It is important to point out that this is a
long term project. Trees of the same type, size
and general appearance needed to establish an
avenue, must be specifically grown. By contacting
nurserymen around Australia, a small number of
suitable trees may be found. However, most will
have to be the result of 'contract planting'. This
requires that we have sufficient funds to order a
reasonable number of trees for future planting.
Based on information supplied by contract
growers of trees and including a maintenance
allowance, the cost of each tree will be $250.00.
[Below] The Service Guard of Honour at
the dedication of the Memorial.
|
