The following is an abridged report of the opening ceremony from the Heidelberg News. Of interest, apart from Carlo's contribution, is the fact that although Melbourne had 25 per cent of its area set aside for breathing and recreation places for the people, in the outskirts of the metropolis, as Fairfield was then considered, not more than 10 per cent of the area was available as breathing areas for the people. Even 110 years ago then, there were concerns about the provision of open space, or breathing areas (and what a great term that is) for the population.
The Yarra River from the Fairfield Park
The Leader, July 4, 1914 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/92041742 (2)
Fairfield Park. Opened by the Minister of Agriculture
Saturday last will long be remembered as a gala day in the history of Fairfield, as it marked the official opening of Fairfield Park. With marked natural characteristics of contour and situation and the Yarra, in one of its most beautiful stretches, bordering its southern and eastern boundaries, this park is destined to become one of the beauty spots of the metropolis. Fairfield has been fortunate in securing a recreation reserve of such natural advantages and future possibilities of beautification. Citizens, council and recreation reserve committee are to be congratulated on the happy result of their efforts. Future citizens will appreciate the foresight and persistency exhibited by them in securing a beautiful breathing place where all may resort and, freed from the comparatively narrow and cramped surroundings of their home or the sordid and harassing cares of business, may breathe in the pure air of Heaven, be inspired by the beautiful works of nature, may lift heart and mind to the contemplation of broad and noble issues of life.
With pennants and banners flying, many of, which were trophies that signalised the progress and achievements of the local sporting clubs, and the Heidelberg District Band, under Bandmaster Saville, discoursing sweet music, the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Hutchinson, accompanied by Messrs. F. Anstey, M.H.R., W. J. Evans, M.L.C., J.G. Membrey, M.L.A., and Catani, Chief Engineer of Public Works Department, arrived, and were welcomed by Cr. Ball, President of the Shire, and fellow councillors and members of the reserve committee. The path leading from the entrance to the speakers' stand was lined by the 53rd battalion senior cadets, under the command of Captain Clappison and Lieuts. Farrer and Lee, the Ivanhoe and District Scouts, under Scout masters Wilson, Biggs, and Groves, and the Fairfield Ambulance Corps. On the grounds were about 2500 people, among whom were several hundreds of children who headed by the above named contingents, had marched from the district school under Headmaster McLean.
School Children marching to the Park
The Leader, July 4, 1914 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/92041742
In opening the proceedings, Mr. Membrey, M.L.A., the member for the district, said it was his pleasing duty to introduce Mr. Hutchinson, a Minister of the Crown, on his first official visit to the district. He congratulated the people of Fairfield on having obtained such a valuable reserve, of 16½ acres, and one eminently adapted to the purpose. The efforts to secure a reserve dated back to the Paterson Government; but it was not until the Murray-Watt regime that they had seen the consummation of their endeavors. He also congratulated them on the improvement ready made in the reserve. In every part of his electorate extreme difficulty had been experienced in getting suitable breathing places for the people. In Fairfield the efforts of the reserve committee had been admirably backed up by the assistance of the populace.
Mr Hutchinson planting the first tree
The Leader, July 4, 1914 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/92041742
The Hon. W. Hutchinson said he was delighted to be there in such happy surroundings and glorious sunshine to help to make Fairfield fairer.... He was pleased as he came down through the lines of boys and girls to observe their healthful happy looks. This reserve would make for the development of the young and give that means of recreation which was necessary for the development of the whole nature. Those who planned Melbourne had planned wisely and made generous provision for gardens and reserves - about 25 per cent of the whole area was set apart for such breathing and recreation places for the people.
In the case of the cities that had grown up since, on the outskirts of the metropolis, there was a lamentable lack of such recreation reserves, and probably not more than 10 per cent of the area was available as breathing areas for the people. He further congratulated them on having obtained a loan of £1000 towards the beautification of their valuable park. Man's existence had begun in a garden, and he hoped that the future of the race would be in gardens, where angels walked and seraphs were the guardians. Having formally declared the gardens opened, Mr. Hutchinson planted the first tree, and was presented by Cr. Stone with a gold medal, struck in commemoration, as a memento of the occasion.
Cr. Ball, President of the [Heidelberg] Shire, in thanking the Minister of Agriculture for his presence, said.... Mr. Catani had done a lot and desired to do more, but the Ministry stopped him. He hoped he would continue to do all he could for the beautification of the Yarra. Mr. Catani, in a brief speech, expressed the hope that they would not forget the native flora, but would blend some of their native trees with trees and plants of the Old World and America. He would ask them to accept from him a half-dozen palms.
Trees were also planted by Messrs. Membrey, Anstey, Evans, Catani, Mrs. Ball and the presidents of the various athletic societies, and other well-known residents, among whom we may mention Mr. Bentley, the oldest resident in the district. Calisthenic displays were afterwards admirably given by the Fairfield school children, under Mr. McLean, head teacher. Mr. F. J. Crabb and the reserve committee are to be specially complimented upon the happy results of their labors. (3)
The children of Fairfield should have long remembered this significant occasion as on the day they were presented with a commemorative medallion by the Shire of Heidelberg (4). I wonder how many medallions still exist?
Acknowledgment
It was my fellow historian, Isaac Hermann, who alerted me to Carlo's connection to the Fairfield Park. Thank you, Isaac.
Footnotes
(1) Heidelberg News and Greensborough and Diamond Creek Chronicle, October 24, 1914, see here.
(2) Photographs from the day - The Leader, July 4, 1914, see here and Weekly Times, July 4, 1914, see here.
(3) Heidelberg News and Greensborough and Diamond Creek Chronicle, July 4, 1914, see here.
(4) Heidelberg News and Greensborough and Diamond Creek Chronicle, June 13, 1914, see here.
