FEW would deny the open spaces of Rosalind Park are a major asset for Bendigo, setting it apart from other regional cities.
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The park has stood the test of time, and its complete survival was no accident: it was the result of the dedication of community-minded people, with former Bendigo mayor Daryl McClure OAM at the forefront.
His contribution to Bendigo has been recognised with a plaque in his honour at Rosalind Park’s View Street entrance, unveiled on Tuesday.
Family, friends and City of Greater Bendigo representatives gathered at the site to celebrate the legacy of Mr McClure, who passed away in 2015.
Son Trent McClure said the family was pleased with the long-awaited recognition.
“Dad, over the years and for a long, long time, he really put in for Bendigo,” he said.
“Dad was very passionate about Rosalind Park later on in the years. He didn’t want to see the park cut apart. At one time there was a proposal for car parking to chew up some of the land.
“He was absolutely against that, and he wanted to ensure the park was here for future generations to enjoy.”
Rosalind Park was just one of the Bendigo institutions Mr McClure helped to preserve for future generations.
In his early 20s, he was part of a group that welded bars across the Bendigo tram lines to prevent them from being removed. He helped to save the Shamrock Hotel from demolition in the 1970s – a time when removing heritage buildings was all the rage.
He also encouraged the council to buy the Central Deborah Gold Mine, paving the way for it to become the tourism icon of today.
His list of achievements was long, and continued well after he stepped down from roles in public life.
Recognising Mr McClure was an initiative of the previous City of Greater Bendigo council. The plaque was installed as part of the restoration of the heritage fence on the View Street frontage.
Mayor Margaret O’Rourke said Mr McClure had left a legacy throughout Bendigo, including Rosalind Park.
“Daryl, even after he left council, was still involved in the master planning of this precinct,” she said.
“It’s such a beautiful precinct to have right in the centre of town. It’s one of the things that people differentiate Bendigo from other regional cities, that we have this parkland right in the middle of town.
“One of the things about the City of Greater Bendigo is our heritage, and acknowledging our heritage, and it’s also about acknowledging the people that have taken part in that over that time.
“This fence certainly needed a great deal of work, so we just thought restoring the fence and having a plaque there was a lovely way of acknowledging Daryl.”
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