ROTARY Club of Swan Hill returned to their roots this week, helping council to plant 50 gum trees in Mundara Park.
President Arthur Graham recalled fond memories of playing cricket with his friends at the park in his childhood, about 60 years ago.
“We called it Prickle Park because it was full of bindis – we would kick away the tumble weeds and get playing,” he said.
“It’s a bit tired and needs a bit of a freshen up, and the trees are a starting point.
“The Rotary Weed Warriors program took care of the bindis years ago, and these new trees will make some shade for the families who still play cricket out here.”
Rotary Club have been involved in regreening Swan Hill for decades, planting trees in Steggall Park, Curlewis Street and outside the Alcheringa entrance, and tending them until they matured.
Rotarian Bill Gurnett and his wife watered the Curlewis Street flora by hand weekly in the 1990s to ensure they survived the drought to become the looming redcap gums they are today.
So, when Rotary Club environment director Denis Gell saw Swan Hill Rural City Council’s $35,000 commitment to tree planting, he volunteered the club to help them out.
“Protecting the environment is one of our core areas of focus, and we’re very proud to see the big trees down Monash Drive and along Curlewis Street, so we are committed to continuing that involvement,” he said.
Dwarf lemon scented, red cap and pink flowered iron bark gums now border the park to grow into shady trees for children to play for years to come.
The dwarf variety sits along the residential fences to avoid dropped limbs when they are mature.
Council parks and garden co-ordinator Conor McCreesh told the gathered Rotarians the team is already halfway through the 2025/26 tree planting program.
“We have planted up to 200 of the redcap and dwarf lemon scented gums in the last few years, and we’re planting 400 trees throughout the municipality each year,” he said.
As with the rest of the trees going into the ground this year, residents can see the parks and garden team watering each week in the winter and more frequently during the drier seasons.
Community groups who wish to volunteer can get in touch via the council website.
