Plans for education centre at prisoner of war memorial stymied

The striking Australian Ex-Prisoner of War memorial in the South Gardens of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens - an area that has a heritage overlay - has stood as a tribute to their suffering and courage since 2004.

HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE IDEA BELOW

Trustees have long hoped for an educational building at the side of the memorial, which was designated a national monument in 2008, where visitors could research, browse memorabilia and take shelter.

SEE ARCHITECTURAL RENDERINGS OF THE PROPOSAL

In the past five years, they have worked to make their vision a reality, paying for architectural drawings, speaking at various groups - including the Parks and Gardens, Friends of the Gardens, Ballarat and Victorian Heritage committees.

Despite the time and money spent, they say no progress has been made.

"'Frustrated' is the word that comes to mind," said Bill Bahr, the chairman of the memorial's trustees.

"It's a national memorial that someone is just not taking any notice of".

He said the proposed building would bring to life some of the prisoners' experience and give the memorial greater impact.

"It's about telling people some of their stories," said Mr Bahr, one of the original trustees.

Another of the trustees, the Reverend John Furness, has written to The Courier, saying that he wanted to open the idea to the public to see if the "council really does its community's bidding."

In his letter, the reverend wrote that the trustees were proud of the memorial and that proposed building would be "unobtrusive" and "mostly.. hidden by appropriate landscaping."

He said the "greatest hurt" felt by trustees included that they were not taken seriously and that the plans were never presented to council for debate.

Mr Bahr meanwhile said the trustees hoped to bring their idea out into the open and let the public have their say.

"That's the main thing, getting a bit more discussion going - which is something we've had very little of so far," he said.

The South Gardens of Ballarat Botanical Gardens is under a heritage overlay. Two current projects - the recreation of a 19^th century Gothic fernery, and proposed changes to the Tramway Museum - have been put under significant scrutiny from Heritage Victoria, the government agency responsible for protecting cultural heritage in the state.

In a statement responding to queries on the proposed education centre, a City of Ballarat spokesperson said the South Gardens were considered an unsuitable site for another stand-alone building due to strict heritage controls.

However, it said the City of Ballarat remained committed to the site's maintenance and management, and would carry on providing support for events and commemorations, adding: "We continue to recommend consideration of other ways to interpret the site, including guided tours and digital presentations, to improve the interpretation and recognition of this important National Memorial."

Surviving ex-prisoners of war banded together at the end of last century to raise money for a memorial to honour fallen comrades, as well as other survivors.

The chairman of the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Appeal told The Courier in 2001 that the memorial would give families of those who died "a proper place to remember them."

The 130-metre-long wall that was eventually built was designed by Ballarat-based artist Peter Blizzard, with the names of thousands of people captured during conflicts ranging from the Boer War to the Korean War etched into the granite.

It cost $1.8m to design and install.

(Written by Reverend John Furness).

The Trustees of the National Prisoner of War Memorial are proud of this national icon, as I am sure are the hundreds and thousands who visit for special services and for personal reasons.

In the past five years, the trustees have tried to complete the original dream (hoped for 16 years ago) to have the addition of an educational building to offer computer material for research, memorabilia (at present in garages), shelter from the weather and toilet facilities.

During the period the trustees have:

- spent money on architectural drawings and model to suit the monument surrounds

- Under direction from councillors, council officers and others, attended many committee meetings including Parks and Garden Committee, Friends of the Gardens Committee, Ballarat & Victorian Heritage Committee and meetings called by the Mayor

- Presentations were given and, as there were no on the spot questions and answers forthcoming, the trustees believed (incorrectly) that what they had offered was more than acceptable

- On at least two occasions, the trustees have, after weeks and even months, had to find and chase after results of these meetings, rather than good manners from committees in sharing their decisions with us

- The proposed building in unobtrusive, to be situated amongst large trees and could mostly be hidden by appropriate landscaping. It is also to be place on ground already granted to the Memorial

- In all, the greatest hurt felt by the trustees include that they were not taken seriously; that they were given the run-around but never presented to council for debate, public notice or decision, with the council officers making the decisions

Further it would seem that advisory committees hold more power than council or that council can hide from community knowledge and debate by falling back on advice from committees.

As trustees, we feel it important to open our wish to you, the public, and see if the council really does its community's bidding.