“It wasn’t there any more,” Mrs Brown said.

Instead, the poplar tree was one of 64 removed in December for Western Link Road works.

However, Mrs Brown was able to proudly replace tree number 478 in honour of David Roskelly Brokenshire on Monday when she replanted an oak in closer alignment to the original avenue trees.

The first tree in Mr Brokenshire’s name, an English ash, had to be removed after getting sick, while a replacement elm tree also failed to grow, replaced in 1997 by the poplar tree. 

“It’s just lovely to have a strong, healthy tree,” Mrs Brown said.

She described her father as a “loving, kind and caring family man” and said “grandfather’s tree” – as it was known in the family – held deep sentimental value.

The family visits the tree annually and have generation photos taken at the site. 

Mr Brokenshire was born in 1897 and served in the 6 Field Ambulance Corps, fighting at Gallipoli.

On his return to Ballarat, he became a Returned Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen’s Imperial League of Australia Ballarat branch board member, which established a scholarship in his honour.

He was also the first Returned Serviceman’s Bowling Club president and in an obituary the club wrote of him: “the tougher the task, the more difficult the problem – the greater did ‘Brokie’ revel in solving it”.

“I just want to thank the City of Ballarat and the Avenue of Honour Committee who maintain the trees,” Mrs Brown said.

The Avenue of Honour contains 3801 trees planted to commemorate local soldiers who served during World War I.

The other trees removed in December will be replaced later this 

week.

fiona.henderson@fairfaxmedia.com.au