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CENTENARY OF ROTARY
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A spectacular, larger than life bronze monument to Australia's convict road builders to adorn the Great Western Highway west of Wentworth Falls, N.S.W., is yet another example of the ingenuity and courage of Rotary clubs `down under' in Rotary's Centenary Year. Inspired by Past President Tom Colless, the Rotary Club of Katoomba, N.S.W., recently announced plans for the project — perhaps the boldest yet announced by any Rotary club in this region! Tom Colless is a direct descendant of convict George Colless who arrived in Australia in 1798. Tom has held a life long desire to commemorate the early settlers of Australia and especially the convict road builders responsible for the first road across the Blue Mountains, which opened up valuable farm land west of that Great Dividing Range.A successful Leura businessman, he has contributed $100,000 of his own money and has worked tirelessly to bring the project to fruition, pulling together Blue Mountains City Council and the N.S.W. State Government. Tom points out that Australia's convict settlers provided the large bulk of the work force for the early Australian colonies yet nowhere is there any monument or public recognition of their work. The memorial will be built at a site called Digger Cooper Reserve on the south side of the Great Western Highway between Wentworth Falls and Leura. The land has been made available by the Blue Mountains City Council and the State Government, and actually contains part of Cox's original road. Famous local sculptor Terrance Plowright has designed the sculpture which will surelybecome one of the premier tourist attractions in Australia! Clay models have already been completed and, when the final bronze statues are placed in position, the scene to commemorate the construction of the road across the Blue Mountains in 1813 will feature two convict road builders, a soldier overseer and two aborigines. There will be two components of the monument. The first is the bronze sculpture comprising the five figures, and the second is a Pioneer Ancestors Wall, to which the public can subscribe by purchasing a brick. Katoomba Rotary Club plans to help finance the project through the Pioneer Ancestors Wall where members of the public can have their family names included on the specially fired colonial brick replicas. Austral Bricks of Sydney have graciously offered to fire the replica bricks free of charge. To add life to the project, an audio presentation will be available at a specific part of the site to tell the story of the road builders. The Terrance Plowright figures will be 50% larger than life size. When completed, the monument will add to his already impressive list of national and international achievements — including "The Dancing Brolga Fountain" at -Darling Harbour, Sydney, "the Driller" at Cobar, and Sydney's 2000 Olympic Sculpture auction piece which raised $1.7 million for Australian athletes. The N.S.W. Government has announced a contribution of $400,000 towards the consruction of a modern, safe rest area on Digger Cooper Reserve. Blue Mountains Member of Parliament Bob Debus said the funding would improve road safety whilst providing an interesting stop for motorists heading west. The MP said it was Government road safety strategy to provide effective rest stops along major state roads but that this site will also provide an opportunity for motorists to sample some real Australian history and to learn a little more about the beautiful Blue Mountains. Blue Mountains City Council Mayor Jim Angel said his council wants to include examples of sustainable environmental practices into the design. He said Council recently dedicated the site and unveiled a plaque commemorating the life and work of Digger Cooper — Gundungurra man, returned serviceman, family man and one of the quiet leaders for reconciliation in the Blue Mountains, heading west. |
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