By KATH GANNAWAY
ANOTHER warrior of Millgrove’s Avenue of Honour has fallen.
A giant gum that has stood for 94 years succumbed to the high winds that whipped through the Yarra Valley on Tuesday 3 May.
The tree, located in the middle of the town, came crashing down around 4pm, with branches strewn across the Millgrove Anzac Memorial, adding insult to injury.
Members of Millgrove Residents’ Action Group are devastated by the loss of another stalwart of the Avenue.
Secretary Bob Lillie said the Avenue of Honour was planted and dedicated in 1922 to the memory of local men who lost their lives during WWI at the behest of local resident Ina Saville.
“This Avenue of Honour has survived to this day despite storm and flood damage over the years and was largely forgotten by residents over the years,” Mr Lillie said.
“We have been working to protect the trees that survive ever since MRAG’s inception 11 years ago, and we are devastated at this loss of one of the remaining trees.
“We are determined that, perhaps, some of the timber from this tree can be salvaged to create a further memorial to the service of Millgrove residents who have served in that war and the many other wars that Australians have participated in since then,” he said.
Mr Lillie noted that it was disappointing that someone had already started to take logs from the tree, perhaps indicating a lack of knowledge of the significance of the tree, and that the Avenue of Honour, although diminished, still pays tribute.
Plans for future enhancement of the memorial and the Avenue of Honour are an on-going discussion between MRAG, Yarra Ranges Council and VicRoads.
