The Yarra Bank Reserve, site for the interactive play sculpture being presented to the community on September 12th as a gift from Rotary, is a beautiful park with an ancient history. The traditional land of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people, who hunted and fished along the Yarra banks, the reserve contains an ancient scar tree. A scar tree or scarred tree, also known as a canoe tree and shield tree, is a tree which has had bark removed by Aboriginal Australians for the creation of bark canoes, shelters, weapons such as shields, tools, traps, containers or other artefacts. 

Visitors to the park on September 12th for the Opening Ceremony and Family Fun day will be able to view the scar tree, and reflect on and pay respect to the families who lived, worked and played along these banks in a distant past.

 

The theme for the new playground project was stated quite casually, early in the planning cycle, by Benjamin Gilbert of Agency of Sculpture, creators of the Rotary interactive play sculpture. Benjamin said: "The play sculpture is meant to demonstrate that when people work together they can create something magnificent". The plaque will be unveiled by the Mayor of Boroondara at the Family Fun Day on Sunday September 12th.