The online photo shows Mr and Mrs Tully standing beside one of the granite pillars which stands as the gateway to the Progress Hall and Swimming Pool. Made of wrought iron. The gates bear the words "Eastern Park" in silver letters. A plaque on one of the pillars reads, "Erected to Honour the Services Rendered by Mr & Mrs J.P. Tully, May 1957".

In an hour-long ceremony at Eastern Park, Councillor Craig, Mayor of Bendigo, paid the following tribute to Jack and Margaret Tully: "They showed perseverance, vision and service. Without the vision of people like the Tullys, there would be no centre here at Bendigo East. One quality of both these fine people is the faith they have in the essential goodness in human nature. Without that faith they would not have gained the co-operation of the people they worked with.

"All the amenities at Bendigo East – the swimming pool, tennis courts, bowling green, hall and playground – were in a large part due to Mr and Mrs Tully.  The Federal Member for Bendigo, Mr Clarey, said the Bendigo East community was paying tribute to the overflowing manner of service given by them. In reply, Jack Tully said he could not take all the praise as he always had good secretaries and a good ladies’ committee."

Jack Tully passed away in 1968 and the Mayor made the following remarks to the Bendigo Advertiser. "Bendigo lost a fine citizen in the passing away of Mr J.P. Tully. Mr Tully was a legend in his own lifetime. The years he devoted to honorary work for many organisations were a great number. The Bendigo East Progress Association was one of his pet efforts and he had the satisfaction of seeing it develop to the useful amenity it is today. He was one of the true-blue Bendigo stalwarts and always keen to help. He had a real pioneering spirit and there are many monuments to his work, particularly in Bendigo East."

During his lifetime, Jack Tully was made a Life Governor of the Bendigo and Northern District Base Hospital (Bendigo Health) and an Honorary Life Governor of the Bendigo Benevolent Home (Anne Caudle Centre), both awards being given in 1947. Both he and his wife Margaret were made Life Members of the Bendigo East Swimming Club in 1952 and Margaret was made a Life Governor of the Base Hospital in 1949. Jack Tully was the Foundation President of the Bendigo East Bowling Club.

Notices

The Coo-ee Songs of the Anzacs double CD is available for purchase at Specimen Cottage (178 Hargreaves Street), the RSL Havilah Road and Visitor Information Centre, or by phoning the Bendigo Historical Society on 5442 1005 (Tuesday or Thursday). The cost is $25.

Shamrock Hotel tours are conducted every Sunday at 2pm. Cost $10 includes cake and coffee. Book at the Shamrock on 5443 0333.

Vahland tours from Specimen Cottage at 2pm on Tuesdays; and at White Hills Cemetery at 2pm on Thursdays (meet at Holdsworth Road gates).