Parkes residents and our visitors will soon have access to a space to contemplate the meaning and value of peace, with construction of a new Rotary Peace Precinct soon to be complete.
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Community members are invited to attend a dedication ceremony at 11am on Wednesday, June 28.
Supported by a Country Arts Support Program (CASP) grant, the new Peace Precinct located within the Rotary Arboretum on Bushman Street, has been built to provide the community a space for reflection and to gather each year for world peace.
Parkes Shire Mayor, Cr Ken Keith OAM said the initiative has been a whole community effort, with many local volunteers dedicating their time to work on the project.
“Not only has this project significantly enhanced the amenity of the site, it will provide a wonderful place for residents and visitors to gather and enjoy,” he said.
Council contractors, Hoe Excavations have constructed a dry creek bed which includes the installation of five timber pillars carved by local artists, Sean Cassidy, Scott (Sauce) Towney and Scott Turnbull.
“Four of the five pillars are positioned along the natural curve of the dry creek bed, representing four music notes. Together they make a harmony - and harmony is what the peace precinct is all about,” Sean explained.
“The five pillars stand for Peace, Respect and Value Diversity, Acknowledge the Past, Strong Families Strong Community, and Yindymarra Winhanganha - a Wiradjuri phrase meaning 'the wisdom of respectfully knowing how to live well in a world worth living in',” he said.
“They should remind us that respect, rejection of violence, resolution, reconciliation and freedom contribute to a state of peace. The pillars are carved with Wiradjuri iconography to acknowledge the First Peoples and our local history.”
Council staff joined members of the Rotary Club of Parkes to carry out some landscaping and planting around the pillars.
“We hope the process of re-developing the Precinct will encourage discussion around the five themes featured in the installations, and the Precinct will become a focus for peace activities into the future,” Rotary Club of Parkes Secretary, Ken Engsmyr said.
“Parkes was officially declared a Peace Community in 2012, and this project will reflect the credo of our community being an inclusive place to live, work and visit.”
