The many parks in Parkes contribute to a positive feel of beauty and tranquility. The newest park is a space where visitors can specifically contemplate the meaning and value of peace.
The construction of the new Rotary Peace Precinct located within the Rotary Arboretum on Bushman Street will soon be complete.
Supported by a Country Arts Support Program (CASP) grant, the new Peace Precinct has been built to provide the community a space for reflection and to gather each year for world peace.
A dry creek bed was constructed which includes the installation of five carved timber pillars by local artists Sean Cassidy, Scott (Sauce) Towney and Scott Turnbull.
“Four of the five pillars are positioned along the natural curve of the dry creek bed, representing four music notes. Together they make a harmony – and harmony is what the peace precinct is all about,” Sean explained.
“The five pillars stand for peace, respect and value diversity, acknowledge the past, strong families strong community, and Yindymarra Winhanganha – a Wiradjuri phrase meaning ‘the wisdom of respectfully knowing how to live well in a world worth living in’.”
Sean said they should remind us that respect, rejection of violence, resolution, reconciliation and freedom contributed to a state of peace. The pillars are carved with Wiradjuri iconography to acknowledge the First Peoples and our local history.
Council staff joined members of the Rotary Club to carry out landscaping and planting around the pillars.
Rotary Club secretary Ken Engsmyr said: “We hope the re-development of the precinct will encourage discussion around the five featured themes, and that it will become a focus for peace activities in future.”
“Parkes was officially declared a Peace Community in 2012. This project will reflect the credo of our community being an inclusive place to live, work and visit.”