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| Mayor of Upper Lachlan Shire Council, Brian McCormack OAM (right), about to cut the ribbon with President of GDHS Graham Dyer (left) at Barbour Park on Meadow Creek, Gunning, with the RV-friendly camping area is in the background. Photo: Rosemary Spiller. |
Twenty
people from Gunning and district came together in fine Autumn weather in a very popular location on Sunday 30 April. The
event was part of the National Trust’s Australian Heritage Festival. Mr Graham Dyer, President of Gunning and District Historical Society, outlined the "Barbour Park Seat of Reflection Project”. The Upper Lachlan Wood Guild and Gunning and District Historical Society (GDHS) had crafted and erected
the memorial Seat of Reflection. It
became clear that a roof was required.
As well
as the community grant from Energy Developments (EDL), operators of the
Cullerin Windfarm, GDHS had contributed a donation from Ms Alison Blackbourn,
daughter of Dr Barbour, and its own funds to "enhance" the seat. GDHS thanks the Upper Lachlan Shire Council,
especially the people from the Gunning depot who provided advice on ordering
the structure, erected the roof and repositioned the memorial plaque which had
been dedicated on Armistice Day 2015. Some
people with well-developed aesthetic sensibilities have wished for a less
functional structure but the lovely views of Meadow Creek are undiminished, as
seen in the photo at top.
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| The McCormacks enjoying the Autumn sunshine. Photo: Rosemary Spiller |
Graham welcomed
the Mayor of the Upper Lachlan Shire, Mr Brian McCormack OAM and Mrs McCormack
to the “cutting the ribbon” ceremony. Brian
reflected on how fondly Gunning people remembered Dr
Barbour. He was a veteran of World War
I, who came to Gunning in 1935 and was the local physician as well as serving
as Shire President for 27 years. This park was conceived as a
memorial to him. The Mayor congratulated
GDHS for their activities and recounted some recent events with an historical
flavour in other parts of the Shire that he and Mrs McCormack had been pleased
to attend.
The Mayor commended EDL for the community grant to erect the roof which will protect users from the weather and preserve the handsome wooden seat. He spoke enthusiastically of other projects which EDL has funded throughout the Shire.
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| EDL: Sponsors of the Barbour Park Seat of Reflection Project |
After Mr McCormack wielded the scissors on the ribbon, he and Mrs McCormack joined the locals for a cup of tea. We were then treated to a display of objects from the collection of historical artefacts unearthed locally by Michael Brown with the help of his metal detector. Some of the group then proceeded to Pye Cottage Museum, following the GDHS Walk Guide to the key historical buildings of Yass Street.
The Gunning and District Historical Society wishes to thank Energy Developments for their support of the Society and the Gunning community.
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