Article item posted on Wednesday, June 2nd 2010 at 9:05 pm

The Avenue of Honour in Bacchus Marsh – the third largest of Victoria’s Great War Avenues of Honour – is threatened by road works. Planning Minister Justin Madden is about to approve the uprooting of eight magnificent elm trees planted to remind Bacchus Marsh residents of the sacrifices their sons and brothers made in World War One.

“In the afternoon of the 10th August 1918 a crowd of over 1000 people assembled to witness and participate in the planting ceremony. A bugle call was then sounded as the signal to commence the planting simultaneously. All two hundred and eighty one elms were planted within half an hour of the bugle call.” – The Express, 17th August 1918.

The trees are over ninety years old now, but the spilled blood they mourn is still fresh and the need to respect the fallen unchanged.

Our boys gave their lives.

The Avenue of Honour is a warning to us all of the folly of war, the cruelty of man and the need for eternal vigilance to defend our freedoms.

The Victorian Government has no plan to replant the trees or renew the memorial in a modern form.  They are just going to take away some more.

This government insults the integrity of the Bacchus Marsh community and the deep cultural significance of the Avenue.

I oppose the thoughtless and destructive Woolpack Road extension from Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Rd – for a truck route!

We cannot allow Premier Brumby and Minister Madden to diminish our proud Australian heritage.

Bacchus Marsh residents must be consulted on this issue and given the opportunity to come up with a more viable, honourable and respectful solution.

There are alternatives.

Mr Laurie Martin, a local and Vice President of the Didyabringyarodalong Angling Club, suggested diverting trucks to the other side of Bacchus Marsh to preserve and protect the Avenue of Honour.

Seems reasonable, Mr Madden.  Are you listening?

Peter Papachristoforos