Posted by Richard Blakeman
Our clubs, the Rotary clubs of Glenferrie, Camberwell, Hawthorn and Canterbury have combined to mark the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Rotary in Australia with a unique gift to the Boroondara community, assisted by a District Local Grant from The Rotary Foundation.

 

Bring the Kids, Bring the Grandkids, Most of All Bring Yourself to Family Fun Day Sunday August 8th

The new playground at beautiful Yarra Bank Reserve Hawthorn, landscaped by Jeavons Landscape Architects,  will feature as its centrepiece, a unique interactive play sculpture crafted by internationally renowned playground sculptor Benjamin Gilbert of Agency of Sculpture in Yackandandah, a gift from our clubs to the community to mark the Rotary Centenary in Australia. This unique sculpture captures the spirit of this place, once the site of Palmer's Ferry that joined the City of Richmond with the Parish of Boroondara until the mid 19th Century, when a wooden bridge was built.
 
 

Face Painting, Magician, Music and Mayhem

After nearly two years work, the playground is now just about  completed and ready for the official opening by the Mayor of Boroondara, Cr Garry Thompson, and Rotary District 9800 Governor Dale Hoy. The opening will be accompanied by a fabulous Family Fun Day on Sunday August 8th, 12 noon - 3:00pm. Our clubs have been joined by the Rotary clubs of Balwyn and North Balwyn to bring this opening event to the community.  There will be face painting, music, a magician, a hoopist (come along and find out what that is) and Rotary Club of Canterbury's famous Bees Waggle Dance.
 
 
Rotary Club of Balwyn will run their world famous gourmet sausage sizzle and there will be coffee and cakes for the weight conscious.
 
Your good work through fundraising has enabled this gift to the Boroondara community. Please come along and be part of the opening celebrations, and be sure to bring the whole family! Let's make this  a great celebration of the strength of Rotary in Boroondara.
On behalf of the Boroondara R100 Committee, and the presidents of our six clubs, we very much hope to see you and your families, especially the little ones, at the Yarra Bank Reserve, corner of Creswick and Denham Streets, Hawthorn, on Sunday August 8th, 2021 from 12 noon.
 
In the words of Benjamin Gilbert: 'The play sculpture is meant to demonstrate that when people work together they can create something magnificent".