Community Recovery Wall by Park Orchards Lions
|
On Sunday 13th of February, the Park Orchards Lions hosted a Street Party to celebrate the opening of the Community Recovery Wall. The Wall was officially opened by the Mayor of Manningham Cr Michelle Kleinert, with other councillors and the member for Warrandyte, Ryan Smith MP also present.
President Trevor Street introduced the Mayor and other dignitaries. Trevor also thanked all sponsors, people who contributed time and effort to the project and the community for their support and resilience. A copy of Trevor's speech is here for those who could not hear or missed the event. |
| ||
The Community Recovery Wall was constructed as both a fund raiser and as a demonstration of community resilience during the Covid 19 pandemic. The project involved selling tiles within the wall to members of the community to be inscribed with text (family names etc) to fund the construction of the wall. The project was initiated in mid 2020 in what was year 1 of the pandemic.
|
As the project continued, scope expanded to include refurbishment of the eastern wall of the Park Road shops where Pauline Brooke had painted the town map in the late 1980’s / early 90’s. This included expanding on the artwork along that wall and the installation of a drinking fountain for the local community and their pet pooches.
|
|
The wall construction and opening hit a few hurdles along the way (mostly covid related), that has delayed the opening.
|
At the opening event, Park Orchards Lions provided a free BBQ from their snagbuster with live music and other stalls to add to the attraction. The local street was closed for the duration of the Street Party which was attended by a terrific turnout with crowd estimated at 300-400.
The day was a fantastic conclusion to what has been an epic project, 2 years in the making and 1000 hours of member input since the idea was first floated by the club Secretary and project leader, Robert Ellis. |
To have it embraced by the Club and then the Community and culminate in the day’s celebration has certainly made the effort of all those who have contributed worthwhile. The day of the Street Party was the sort of day that makes you proud to be a Lion!
|
|
|