By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
The plaque, set in July 1919, says Lest We Forget, but the reserve it stands in has been forgotten by many.
But not the dedicated Waurn Ponds Memorial Reserve committee of management, however, led by the indefatigable Jack Harriott who is striving to keep the memory of the monument alive.
Since the completion of the Geelong ring road, with Waurn Ponds Drive now a road to nowhere, the reserve gets little passing traffic.
The reserve, fronting Cochranes Road, offers a stand of trees nearing the century mark, replacing an Avenue of Honour marked by a cairn and a plaque unveiled on 4 July 1999.
The plaque records that 35 trees in the Waurn Ponds Avenue of Honour were planted in July 1919 to honour 15 residents who served in World War I.
Now the reserve is about to get some of the attention it deserves with new post and rail fencing replacing a dilapidated wire fence, thanks to grants from the City of Greater Geelong and Geelong Connected Communities.
The reserve hosts an annual memorial service on the first Sunday in July along with a wreath laying service on Remembrance Day.
“This reserve is a living memorial of trees, plants and a running stream instead of a granite obelisk,” Jack said.
“It is a treasured reserve available to be used by the wider Geelong community. It deserves to be better looked after and used by the community.
“With some signage and a new fence, we hope more Geelong residents will discover this natural gem.”
It’s not just the world wars memorialised in the reserve; plaques also commemorate the Korean war, the Vietnam conflict, the war efforts of nurses and servicewomen, a national service plaque and one to air force members.
There’s even a plaque especially to remember Australian servicemen interred in the closed state of North Korea.
The 3.7 inch anti-aircraft gun which took pride of place outside the Myers Street drill hall for many years has been relocated to the reserve.
Jack hopes that the reserve, with its calm surroundings and rotunda serving equally for picnics or as a bandstand, will attract more people to visit.
“The more people that get to know about it the happier I’d be.
“I just hope I’m around for the centenary of the reserve in 2019.”
