SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
TIDY TOWNS
OVERVIEW OF 2008 & 2009 SUBMISSIONS
COMMUNITY PRIDE, HERITAGE & CULTURE
MORWELL’S
PROGRESS
2005-2009
INTRODUCTION
In our 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Tidy
Towns submissions we outlined Morwell’s strengths and challenges, and listed our
proposals to overcome them. Encouragement of community pride and
celebration of our culture and heritage were primary objectives, and continue to
be so in 2009 and into the future.
COMMUNITY
PRIDE
IMPROVEMENT OF THE MORWELL CBD
Murals:
In past years a major focus was
provision of murals on prominent buildings. Three banner murals, one depicting
roses, another recording the town’s history, and a third chronicling the
electricity industry. There was significant community input to the design of
all three, and financial support was received from Advance Morwell, Latrobe City
Council, and owners of the buildings.
Church Street:
We
collaborated with Latrobe City Council’s refurbishment of Church Street, and
conducted a survey of this area and the CBD generally to assess its suitability
for disabled access.
Badging Morwell as a “Rose Town”:
A major 2009 project
is “Badging Morwell as a Rose Town”. We aim to build on the wide recognition of
the Rose Garden by giving each business a rose emblem sticker for its window,
and by providing a number of tubs full of roses on the footpath in front of
businesses that undertake to look after them.
Sea Eagle
Consultancy:
To
invigorate the Morwell CBD businesses we have engaged Sea Eagle Consultants at a
cost of $15,000. Funding will be covered by grants of approximately $10,000
from the State Government, $3,000 from Advance Morwell, and $2,000 from Council.
North South Crossing:
For many years pedestrian access the
north and south sides of Morwell was limited to an ugly, dark, and dangerous
subway. Action had to be taken to get a safe, attractive and easily accessible
crossing. Thanks to a concerted and continuing community campaign the old
subway was filled in and a fine new crossing provided. It was officially opened
by the Victorian Attorney General the Hon. Rob Hulls late in 2006. This was a
major combined achievement of many bodies including the State Government,
Latrobe City Council, community groups such as Advance Morwell, and local
citizens.
MORWELL CENTENARY ROSE GARDEN
The
Morwell Centenary Rose Garden dedicated to a major Morwell businessman, the late
Norman Sharpe, was officially opened in 1992. Through extensive annual
development it is now regarded as the best outside Melbourne. Lovingly tended by
a large group of volunteer Friends of the Garden and Latrobe City Council
garden staff it is a magnet for visitors. Locals use it for general gatherings,
musical performances, weddings, and celebrations.
Every year from 2000 to 2007 Advance
Morwell held a Celebration of Roses event in the Garden. In 2008 and 2009 the
garden has hosted a concert featuring municipal bands from Gippsland.
Significant extensions have been added
in 2008 including many new beds, installation of a new environmentally friendly
watering system, and new paths. The Garden has been featured in the Newsletter
of the World Federation of Rose Societies, and is being assessed in June 2008 by
the Conference of the World Federation of Rose Societies for an Award of Garden
Excellence.
We expect formal notification to be received in June 2009
MORWELL COMMON
Once a
bare and uninviting area, the Common has been continuously upgraded since 1998
when a huge community effort led by International Power Hazelwood constructed a
magnificent new Playground - the area is now one of the most popular venues for
locals and visitors of all ages.
In
2007 and 2008 major extensions included a new picnic shelter constructed by the
Rotary Club of Morwell, an extended parking area and more paths provided by
Latrobe City Council. Each year Rotary runs a celebration festival in the
Common, and in 2008 a special event celebrating the 10th anniversary
of the Playground’s construction was held. This year’s Rotary festival was on
March 16.
ADVANCE MORWELL WEB SITE
We have
developed a web site
www.advancemorwell.org.au
which is a mine of information about Morwell for both locals and visitors. It
is constantly being updated.
ATTRACTIVE ENTRIES TO MORWELL
A
proud town must ensure the entries to the municipality are attractive and
welcoming. We have cooperated with Latrobe City Council in providing Serving
Morwell signs listing our many voluntary service organisations at the
western and eastern highway entrances.
A major project about to be completed
is the painting of the pillars of the former briquette railway bridge at the
western entrance to Morwell.
HERITAGE AND CULTURE
LEGACY PLACE
Recognition of Sir Stanley Savige, highly
decorated soldier and founder of Legacy, was a major project for 2006. A bust
of one of our town’s most famous citizens was placed in the open area named
Legacy Place situated next to the fine new crossing. Legatee Bill Rogers, State
President of Legacy, officially dedicated the bust during Legacy Week 2006. In
attendance were a large assembly of local people, members of the extended Savige
family, and representatives of the Assyrian Levies. The memorial was funded by
contributions from Latrobe City Council, the Federal Government, Advance
Morwell, local Rotary and Lions Clubs, local RSL Clubs, individual Legatees,
members of the Savige family, and the community at large.
Much remains to be done however, and plans are in hand to
provide a wall of recognition containing a representation of Sir Stanley in his
Legacy work, together with an outline of the aims and work of Legacy. Support
for completion of the project has been received from Veterans Affairs, Latrobe
City Council, Legacy, and Advance Morwell. It is planned to have this work
completed and dedicated during a future Legacy Week.
A large
bronze plaque has been produced outlining Sir Stanley’s life, military and
Legacy service. A large “Legacy Place” sign has been commissioned, and this
information will be prominently displayed.
RECOGNITION OF MIGRANTS’ CONTRIBUTION
Morwell and the wider Latrobe City have attracted
many overseas migrants, and they have made an invaluable contribution to our
area. Morwell is a fine example of a successful multicultural community and is
host to the Migrant Resource Centre which serves the whole of Gippsland.
For many years a multicultural festival, the Church Street
Fiesta, attracted visitors from afar.
The visionary project to build a significant memorial
The Immigration Wall of Recognition to record the names and
achievements of migrants who came to Gippsland and helped build our community,
was completed and officially opened in March 2007. Many thousands including
local people and visitors attended the official opening.
In 2008 the area was extended and hundreds of extra names
were listed on the walls. A highly successful festival was held in the grounds
of the Immigration Wall of Recognition on Sunday March 9 and these festivals are
to be held annually. The whole area is a magnet for local people and visitors
from far and wide, and we are proud of this memorial which has received
enthusiastic support from migrants, the State and Federal Governments, and the
wider community.
The Migrant Wall of Recognition was awarded first
prize in the Gippsland region and as a result became one of 8 projects in
contention for the Victoria wide prize.
At the ceremony held in Moe on October 4, 2008 the
judges named the Migrant Wall of Recognition the outstanding Victorian entry in
the Heritage and Culture category, and made the presentation to leading workers
in this project, Don di Fabrizio and Maggi Auciello.
In 2009 over 100 more names have
been added to the walls, and a festival attraction migrant visitors and
performers was held on March 15. An imaginative proposal to construct a Migrant
Museum in the area to list details of migrants to Gippsland is in an advanced
planning stage.
AIRLIE BANK HOMESTEAD
Airlie Bank homestead and farm occupy a special place in
Morwell’s history.
The first owner of the
farm and the builder of the homestead, David Ogilvy Jnr. born in 1842, took over
the property in 1870 and farmed it for nearly 20 years before selling it to
Robert Bridle in 1897. The five Ogilvy children were born in the homestead, one
of whom, Emily Beatrice Riley nee Ogilvy born 1896, was Australia’s oldest
resident, prior to her death on May 15th 2009 in her 113th
year.
The Bridle family lived in the homestead and worked the
farm till 1959, and on retirement gifted the homestead and its immediate
surrounds to the then Morwell Shire. For many years it served as a home for
Shire Nursery employees but in recent years it became vacant and was a target
for vandals.
Advance Morwell
received government employment funding to restore the homestead. This fund was
supplemented by a grant from the then Latrobe Shire and by moneys raised from a
public appeal. A number of working bees, the first on August 28 1999, cleared
the overgrown garden area. Restoration of the homestead started on October 11
and was completed for the official opening on April 16, 2000.
Since its restoration
Airlie Bank homestead has been home to Dad’s War Stuff, a collection of World
War 1 memorabilia collected by George Auchterlonie, a Light Horseman and former
Morwell Shire President. More recently, it has been the base for the Carers
Association.
The homestead has been
recognised by Latrobe City Council as an important part of our heritage and has
been included in the City’s Heritage register.
MORWELL HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The
Morwell Historical Society is dedicated to the recording and maintenance of our
history and culture. Its extensive records are professionally recorded and are
available for scholars and groups seeking information. The Society mounts
regular displays depicting past events and people. Its stored information was a
valuable resource for the Sir Stanley Savige recognition project and it had a
leading role in the identification of and information for the City’s Heritage
list.
Interpretive Signage:
In
2008 the Morwell Historical Society identified 5 significant features in the
development of the town, and is ready in 2009 to provide signage at these 5
locations. The signs will consist of a photo on a metal plate plus information
about the site.
1.
Rose Garden Former
Morwell Mirboo North Railway line
2.
Commercial Road Former
bank building
3.
Commercial Road
Former Alexandra Park
4.
Commercial Road
Morwell’s first school building
5.
Chapel Street
Former Church of England
Bills Horse Trough:
One
other project about to be completed is restoration of Bills Horse Trough and
relocation to its former site in Hazelwood Road.
Dredger 21:
A
committee has been formed to preserve Dredger 21, one of the historic dredgers
that dug coal for electricity. This dredger symbolises an important era in our
history.
SUMMARY
Proud of our community, our heritage, and our culture,
we continue to work with a wide range of people and organisations, including
Latrobe City Council, the State and Federal Governments, local businesses,
corporate entities, service clubs, industry, and the community at large, to
ensure Morwell continues to progress.
Our web site
www.advancemorwell.org.au provides a fund of
information on Morwell and the wider Latrobe City.
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