General News
22 August, 2022
Carisbrook Anzac Day committee look for alternatives to host safer commemoration
The organising committee behind Carisbrook’s Anzac Day service is considering moving the commemoration, which has been in the same place for over 100 years, amidst heavy traffic concerns and increasing costs. Carisbrook’s Anzac Day service has...
The organising committee behind Carisbrook’s Anzac Day service is considering moving the commemoration, which has been in the same place for over 100 years, amidst heavy traffic concerns and increasing costs.
Carisbrook’s Anzac Day service has been held at the WWI cenotaph, which forms part of the town’s avenue of honour, beside the Pyrenees Highway for the last 103 years.
However the committee that organises the annual commemoration is considering a number of options regarding the service’s future, including relocating it to Market Reserve.
The group is considering the move given increasing safety concerns around the volume of people gathering beside the highway, with more than 150 people attending earlier this year, and the number of large trucks travelling along the route.
Complications with public liability insurance have been flagged as concerns, as well as the inconvenience and costs of establishing temporary barriers beside the road and employing traffic supervisors on the day.
Committee member George Nagy said organisers would prefer for the service to remain where it is, however there was “no choice”.
“In an ideal world we would want to continue having the service where it is now,” he said.
“You’ve got the Lone Pine tree there and it’s a really nice spot when you think about it — it’s a perfect site to have the service except it’s too close to the highway.
“Initially when that area was set up, there wouldn’t have been the traffic flow we see now.
“It is what it is unfortunately, we’ve got no choice and we have to do something about it but we will consult with the community before making a decision.”
The committee had considered projected costs of relocating the cenotaph from its current site to Market Reserve, however the estimate was that it would cost more than $40,0000 and as it falls within a heritage overlay, was felt to be inappropriate.
The committee is suggesting the 2023 commemoration will again be held at the cenotaph with VicRoads asked to permit the closure of the highway and divert traffic for the duration of the service.
Organisers will see whether this works and will make further decisions on relocating the service and constructing an additional memorial at Market Reserve in 2024 and beyond.
Committee member Alex Stoneman said moving the commemoration to Market Reserve would eliminate the need for some permits and provide a less hazardous environment
“It’s a matter of balance really, there are factors to stay where it has been for 103 years and there are factors which are shifting the scales a bit to move the commemoration to Market Reserve,” he said.
“You’ve got to get permits of various sorts to conduct any sort of function on council land and on VicRoads property and the process to get that involves very thick layers of application forms.
“Those forms are filled out by volunteers who give up their time and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find volunteers who are willing to do it and know how to fill all these forms in.
“The process is a pain in the neck but it has to be done, for events on council or VicRoads property it has to have proper insurance, has to be COVID compliant, has to be cognisant of all the risks and have a risk management plan in place and that’s just the beginning of it all so realistically from that standpoint, Market Reserve makes sense.”
Mr Stoneman said the community were all too aware of what could happen if a vehicle lost control and hit someone at the Anzac Day service.
“Robyn Tracey, the school crossing supervisor was hit by a vehicle on the Pyrenees Highway a number of years ago and that seriously damaged her legs in particular,” he said.
“We’re all pretty aware in Carisbrook of what can happen through Robyn’s example and she was only one person, if a vehicle left the road on Anzac Day with so many people there, it could clean up a lot of people.”
The committee has consulted with the Maryborough RSL sub branch and Central Goldfields Shire Council and is inviting residents to put their thoughts and suggestions forward before the group meet again next month to finalise its presentation to a public meeting.
Mr Stoneman said given that attendance at Anzac Day has continually increased over the years, it was clearly important to keep the local service running.
“Taking into account the community’s support, it’s really imperative the Anzac Day service continues which puts a lot on the shoulders of our small committee,” he said.
To provide feedback or ideas, the organising committee members are Noela Evans, Ian Boucher, John and Robyn Tracey, Sally Turton, George Nagy and Alex Stoneman, who can be contacted on 0488 151 845.