A fitting climax for Boroondara R100 project

The opening of the new playground at Yarra Bank Reserve, Hawthorn, on November 21, 2021, was a fitting climax to more than two years of planning and implementation by the multi-club team coordinating the project.

Initiated and led by the Rotary Club of Glenferrie, Vic, in partnership with the City of Boroondara, together with the Rotary Clubs of Camberwell, Hawthorn and Canterbury, the project celebrated the 100th anniversary of Rotary in Australia. The clubs were joined for the opening celebration by the Rotary Clubs of North Balwyn, Balwyn, and Melbourne Water.

The new playground, featuring the unique, interactive, Rotary branded ‘Sky Canoe’, was officially opened by the Mayor of Boroondara, Cr Garry Thompson, and Rotary District Governor Dale Hoy at a joyous day of celebrations bringing together local residents and families, and the families of Rotarians and friends.

Despite the weather warnings, the entire event was held in glorious sunshine, adding enormously to the sense of celebration and a strong family vibe.

The free family fun day included live music, face painting, a sausage sizzle, magic by Tim Credible, Hayley Hoopla’s hula hooping skills, and the Bees Waggle Dance, performed by the amazing wagglers from the Rotary Club of Canterbury, who brought a special message about the importance of bees in maintaining the health of the environment.

“Embracing the spirit of collaboration inherent in this centenary project, the more people who operate the Sky Canoe simultaneously, the more active it becomes.”

Designed by Benjamin Gilbert from Agency of Sculpture in Yackandandah, the Sky Canoe – the unique interactive play sculpture that forms the centrepiece of the playground – references the ancient history of the site.

The Reserve is the tribal land of the traditional owners, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, and is the site of an ancient scar tree. A scar tree – or scarred tree, also known as a canoe tree and shield tree – is a tree that has had bark removed for the creation of canoes, shelters, weapons, containers, and other artefacts. The Wurundjeri lived along the banks of the Yarra River, which they called Birrarung, fishing from canoes made from the bark of riverside trees.

Embracing the spirit of collaboration inherent in this centenary project, the more people who operate the Sky Canoe simultaneously, the more active it becomes.

“The play sculpture is meant to demonstrate that when people work together, they can create something magnificent,” Benjamin said.

Indeed, the culmination of this gift to the community to mark Rotary’s 100th anniversary, which took an army of volunteers to bring to fruition, is testament to this.

It will long be remembered as a signature achievement for Rotary in Boroondara.