Arch of Victory Committee call for donations for new garden

The Garden of the Grieving Mother would feature a centre piece statue crafted by sculptor Peter Corlett, whose works also feature at the Shine of Remembrance in Canberra and Fromelles in France.

While $8,000 has been donated towards the project by the Lucas Past-Employees Association, council and The AoV/AoH of Honour Committee are hoping locals will generate the additional funds.

The AoV/AoH Committee president Bruce Price said the garden would represent an aspect of war which is often overlooked.

“With the first World War, the 3801 trees (on the Avenue of Honour)...a huge percentage of those died with no known grave.

“There were a lot of grieving and anxious mothers and families at home, and that part of the war problem was not often featured.”

The garden would occupy 1400 square metres near the arch, with the bronze statue to be flanked by water features. A lone pine is also being considered for the site.

An application has been made to the federal government for a large portion of the funds needed for the garden, with the result of the grant application expected in April.

Both the AoV/AoH Committee and the City of Ballarat have already chipped in $50,000 each for the project.

The statue, which had originally been earmarked for the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, is expected to cost over $100,000 alone.  The total cost of the garden is anticipated to push $400,000.  

Should the funding target be reached, the project will to be completed by December.  A opening is scheduled for February 15 to coincide with a service marking the 75^th anniversary of the fall of Singapore at the Prisoner of War memorial.

Mr Price said while he expected Rotary clubs and other charities from around Ballarat would support the initiative, the public would need to chip in for the garden to be built.