UPDATE: southburnett.com.au was informed on Thursday the trees at both locations have already been planted, so the QEII Park event will NOT be a tree-planting ceremony as advertised. The 16 community groups will instead have a tree “dedicated” to them instead of planting them. As well, the species the trees which have been planted are Hibiscus tiliaceus (red cotton wood) and Pyrus calleryana (ornamental pear).
November 30, 2022
Murgon community members are going to be busy next week at dual ceremonies honouring the Platinum Jubilee of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The first ceremony, in QEII Park in Lamb Street on Saturday (December 10), is being hosted by the South Burnett Regional Council at noon.
Sixteen community groups have each been allocated a tree to plant.
They are the Creative Country Association, Murgon Business & Development Association, Murgon Lions, Murgon Meals On Wheels, Murgon Men’s Shed, Murgon Show Society, Murgon Local Ambulance Committee, National Seniors Australia Murgon & District, Rotary Club of Murgon, Qld Dairy & Heritage Museum, South Burnett Support Group of Parkinsons, Murgon & District Cricket Club, Murgon Bowls Club, Murgon Junior Rugby League, Murgon Golf Club and Murgon & District Tennis Association.
Originally jacaranda trees were to be planted, but after concerns they may interfere with electrical infrastructure, the trees will now be a mix of Purple Leaf Gum and Ornamental Pear (Pyrus calleryana).
These should provide a display of purple and white flowers, the colours of the Queen’s Jubilee.
This project has been jointly funded by the South Burnett Regional Council and the Federal Government’s Planting Trees for the Queen’s Jubilee program.
The second ceremony will begin just up the road on the same day, at the new park developed on former railway land opposite the skate park in Gore Street.
This ceremony, hosted by the Murgon RSL Sub-Branch, is due to start at 1:00pm.
Trees planted here also celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
The Garden Party and Plaque Unveiling ceremony will also feature the official opening of the Veterans Memorial Park, created by the Sub-Branch.
This park, which will provide the community with a quiet space to reflect and honour veterans who have served after World War II, has been made possible with funding received from a number of programs including the State Government’s 2022 Queensland Remembers grant program, and the Federal Government’s Planting Trees for the Queen’s Jubilee and Saluting Their Service programs.
Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien has been invited to attend both ceremonies.
Related articles:
- Work Starts On New Park
- Jubilee Park To Honour Veterans
- Green Light For Jubilee Trees
- Trees To Honour Queen’s Jubilee
[UPDATED]
Did anyone Google these pear trees before they were selected (ie Pyrus calleryana)?
According to Wikipedia, this variety has “an offensive odour”; produces seeds that contain cyanide; and is close to being declared an invasive pest in parts of the USA. Even worse, the most common cultivar of this variety is “particularly susceptible to storm damage and … regularly disfigured or killed by strong winds, winter weather, or limb loss due to their naturally rapid growth rate”.