Monday 20 February 2012
Tamworth Regional Council is seeking the community’s opinion on a proposal to plant a Lone Pine adjacent to the Australian Light Horse Memorial in Bicentennial Park, Tamworth.
A proposed landscape concept plan, approved by councillors at last week’s Council meeting, will go on public exhibition today (20 February) until Monday, 19 March.
The plan can be viewed in Council’s Customer Service Centres at Tamworth, Barraba, Manilla and Nundle as well as the Council website,
The proposed design puts a Lone Pine in the area between the Light Horse memorial (a bronze statue of a Waler horse) and the HMAS Tamworth Memorial, complemented with plantings of native grasses and dwarf rosemary and a paved corridor for access from the lawn for formal ceremonies. An information plaque is suggested to be placed at the foot of the Lone Pine.
Tamworth Australian Light Horse Memorial Committee member David Evans approached Council with the concept which also has the support of the Tamworth RSL Sub-branch.
A report tabled at the Council meeting this week described The Lone Pine and the Australian Light Horse as two significant icons in the Australian history of World War I.
'The Australian Light Horse Regiments served as infantry at Gallipoli in the Battle of Lone Pine during the legendary Australian campaign,’ the report said. 'The tree was obliterated during the battle: however, pine cones that had remained attached to the cut branches over the trenches were retrieved by two Australian soldiers and brought home to Australia.
'The Waler horse was not active at Gallipoli, but served with the Light Horse Regiment in subsequent campaigns in the Sinai Desert, Egypt, Suez Canal, around Beersheba and other historical battles.’
Tamworth has one mature Lone Pine growing in Lone Pine Park at the intersection of North and Carthage streets. A semi-mature tree was planted at Tamworth’s Gipps Street War Memorial in 2010. There are other Lone Pines at various locations throughout the region.
Council is seeking public comment on the proposed landscape concept plan. Written submissions should be mailed to: The General Manager, Tamworth Regional Council, PO Box 555, Tamworth NSW 2340 or emailed to: trc@tamworth.nsw.gov.au before 5pm on Monday, 19 March, 2012.