By Cr Michael Clarke
Two of the great pleasures of living in the city of Maribyrnong are the beautiful open spaces we enjoy and the strong sense of community.
Both of these aspects came together last weekend when my fellow councillors and I joined hundreds of locals to belatedly celebrate the 50th birthday of Cruickshank Park in Yarraville, delayed by a year due to pandemic restrictions.
With the first trees planted on 25 October 1979, and named after former mayor George Cruickshank, the former wasteland was opened to the public after a dramatic transformation on July 26, 1981.
It was a fantastic party held in the park to commemorate the milestone with an interactive wildlife demonstration, a performance by a children’s choir, a sausage sizzle courtesy of the Rotary Club of Yarraville and, of course, a gigantic birthday cake.
I was delighted to be able to pay tribute to the advisory committee that was formed in the 1960s, whose devotion transformed the area – once home to around 11 quarries and later became an informal waste disposal tips for the public – into the rolling green haven it is today.
The redevelopment had been a labour of love for Lola and Peter Anderson, aged 81 and 85 respectively, who were awarded the Maribyrnong Citizens of the Year Award in 2021 for kick-starting the campaign to create an urban oasis on the site all those years ago.
The Yarraville couple, who have lived in our municipality all their lives, exemplifies what can be achieved when community spirit and tenacity combine.
Today, Cruickshank Park supports a thriving ecosystem attracting a range of native animals, and providing a place for locals to wander, walk their dogs and enjoy nature.
Many attendees told me at the birthday celebration that during the COVID-19 lockdowns, the park was a saviour to them.
These conversations bring home the importance of our outdoor recreational spaces for the health and wellbeing of our community.
So, it pleases me greatly that council’s Open Space Strategy will ensure our residents can enjoy the great outdoors by creating new spaces like Cruickshank Park now and well into the future.
