Marshall Ave, Moe. Project

Mr G.C. Purvis offered to pay for the site to be rotary hoed, an offer we gratefully accepted. Further delay occurred with the preparation of the site owing to obtaining the machinery which was unavailable at the required time. The ground was rotary-hoed, a working bee of Rotarians cleared away all the rubbish and stones, then hoed again and graded, removing soil from the higher portions and transferring it to be spread over the low laying area. Owing to the wet weather it took some time to complete.

An amount of £178 was raised towards this project by Rotarians, out of this £95-1-8 was expended on the purchase of seven pieces of Playground equipment, leaving £82-18-8 in the Fund. A further piece of equipment, a swing was offered by an anonymous donor. Included in the amount raised, the sum £32-5-10 was contributed by the Committee of the Moe Mechanics Institute from the proceeds of a Film Night. Mr Angus Thompson of Yallourn made a donation in kind by rotary hoeing the area a second time at no charge whatsoever.

 

Sundry amounts were used for Grass Seed and Cement. An approach was made to the Victorian Railways for a supply of old sleepers which were used as a frame for a sand pit. Five pieces of the equipment were placed in position by Rotarians during a working bee. Three pieces were later installed, including a Drinking Fountain. A master plan of the Playground was drawn up.

 

President Allan McHardy wrote in his President’s Report of 1953-54 "the Community Service Committee’s main assignment was the Kiddies Playground and much equipment has been erected at the chosen site. I personally think that in this project we can continue a great deal further and make this area a challenge to our community by setting out the whole area to harmonise with completed portion of the playground. What better advertisement for Rotary in Moe could there be than to have a Rotary reserve complete in every essential detail to serve as an example of what can be done."

 

Given the modest amount of finance at hand, there was  not enough for the work to be completed and the Community Service Committee placed before the Club the idea of a Bonfire to be held on Guy Fawkes Night as a means of raising further capital. The scheme had the approval of  all Rotarians. Quite a great deal of work, both in organisation  and manual labour, was put in by all Club members together with the co-operation of the Apex Club and other persons and the Rotary Club of Moe was exceedingly pleased with the result of this effort, so much so that there was ample finance raised to spend on the Playground. It was agreed by the Club to keep the Bonfire as an Annual project for the entertainment of the community.

 

A great deal of work was carried out at the Playground during the year. The first task was to draw up a plan of the area showing what had been done. Then the proposed work agreed upon was added and every endeavour was made to keep as near to this plan as possible. The first job was to let a contract for a concreting edging to encircle the actual Playground and then from the North East and South East corners of the Reserve the edging was formed to bound two paths that lead to the Playground. This was carried out successfully and to the Club's satisfaction. The next major task was to reticulate the area with water to be used for a Water Fountain and for the future needs of the proposed lawns and shrubs. After purchasing the necessary pipes and fittings, the work was carried out by club members and all was in readiness for future use.

 

A Water Fountain was made available by Rtn Bernie Harrington and this was placed in position and water connected. Before the balance of reserve that was not being used for the Playground could be sown down in Lawn, as agreed upon, it was felt that the area would have to be rotary-hoed and levelled to make the job a success. After some delay through the inability to get the necessary machinery for the job, the Club was again indebted to Mr Angus Thompson of Yallourn who came to the rescue and did the rotary Hoeing as a donation. To finalise the levelling of the area a working bee was held by Rotarians, together with the assistance of the Council loader and Rtn  Russ Saviges’ Tractor. However on the advice of experts it was agreed that the weather was too cold to plant the lawn seed and so a Spring sowing was necessary.

 

Further items of Playground equipment were placed on order but did not come to hand. Whilst it was regretted by the Committee that the Club was unable to complete this project during the Rotary year it was felt that a good job was done, although further work and finance was still required for the ultimate completion.

With the addition of two pieces of additional equipment, the Playground was complete. Further levelling and grading work was done in the Lawn area and grass seed sown. A large Cog Wheel representing a Rotary Wheel measuring three feet in diameter was mounted on a concrete base showing that the Playground was provided by Rotary.

The total cost of the project was £380  and the finances of £237 came from two Bonfires.

A donation of £10 from Rtn Claude Staff and £5 from Rtn Chas. Rutter was thankfully received. The balance was made up by members in their drive to provide £10 each by the sale of articles. The financing of the addional equipment was done by £5 debentures from members until the bonfire was over. These debentures were then been returned.

On 10 December, 1956, President Claude Staff, on behalf of the Rotary Club of Moe, officially handed over the Marshall Avenue Playground to the Moe Borough Council. The Mayor, Councillor Stoddart, congratulated the Rotarians on their community spirit.

 

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Unfortunately, on the 27 April, 2020, the Rotary Club of Moe had to remove the structure and Rotary Wheel after 64 years, due to its deterioration beyond repair.

However, it is important that this work undertaken by the Rotary Club of Moe for the community is not forgotten.

The Rotary Wheel as
presented in 1956