Recently I viewed a petition concerning the park fence which did not give any substance to why it should be saved.
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It's fitting to say the fence is a mess and for my future grandchildren and Preston families, I believe parts of this fence should be rescued, actually the whole fence is a disgrace to the town.
NB: Wellington Times, 16th March 1923 Memorial Gates for Cameron Park.
"Memorial Gates in conformity with angle of the (Nanima) Crescent, 12ft of wrought iron on stone formation is necessary to carry out the design with the tangent of street line and so 25ft of similar fencing will extend on each side of the design commencing at the columns and extending up and down the Crescent on each side and the facade will be 80 ft."
1924: The cost of fence under the new scheme would be 680 but the fence around the park would not. Cost of materials 2 shilling/5 pence per cubic yard.
By January 1924 Alderman Carveth put forward a very fitting design for the fence; sadly the design was lost in council.
It was moved that Ald Carveth hold a special committee meeting in the park to deal with the erection of and decide on the design of the fence.
Council adopted in February a design that met with the memorial gates (the gates were donated to Wellington by Murdock McLeod) and to proceed at once.
The cost for the erection of this fence will be subsidised by an addition of an extra penny on the rates.
Mr Redman (overseer) advised the idea of the fence is a good one and should meet requirements and it would not be long before a new fence is laid in front of Cameron Park.
Members of the public came forward who wrote to Council asking to buy a panel of the fence.
The park fence was completed in time for the "Back to Wellington Week" on 22nd to 27th September 1924 celebrations.
From the proceeds raised from the "Back to Wellington Week" the Progress Association Ald H H Flanagan and Ald Preston that �10,000 be put aside for the proposed building of the Victory Hall.
Ald Mr Redman, overseer of the construction of the park fence, resigned after 20 years of service to Council on 31 July 1924.
Ald Jas Matheson also resigned. He was in charge of the installation of the town's water supplies.
Mr Wilson MLA - 1935 advised a special grant �250 to Wellington Municipal Council for the purpose of erecting a fence and gates to Cameron Park hence finishing the rest of the fence.
This fence has endured many historical and social events from the Anzacs of WW1 and WW11 parade and the Queen's Coronation, and sadly to the passing of John Goodman killed in action at Vietnam this fence holds history in its arms.
Joe Logue and brother Keith ran the taxi rank during the 1960-70s across the road from Wall's newsagency this rank (same position in 2014) was a gathering point.
Our local Aboriginals took pride in sitting on the park fence under the coolness of the still existing trees waiting for a taxi to take them out to the mission.
Remembering those days as kids, dad or mum would hold our hands and let us walk upon the fence, and for those the police could give you a swift kick up the butt if you were out of line.
A committee should be formed to advise council of its future restoration personally opening the park will set the scene.
I believe in compromise by keeping 25ft either side and by using other fence panels to invert and melt the fence by tiering it into the park without it being an unsightly obstacle.
Hopefully this will be in keeping with the original street scape theme of 1923 looking down from the Railway Station in Swift Street to Memorial Gates.
During the 1940s vandalism was rife it was mention then the park fence be demolished so whether it's today or the future this fence will go.
The myth of keeping back the floods most photographs show the blue stone lining the garden held the water from the fence.
The shallowest ends of the park could never hold back huge amounts of water especially backed up by the Macquarie.
The latest myth, the kids will run across the road without a fence.
Please have a look at the children's playground area today, the year 2014.
Our heritage has to be updated and it's time to act if the money is available.
Barbara Preston
