IN BETWEEN THE POSSUMS
Some time ago, last year, with the persistent direction and focus of Elizabeth Shepherd of The Rotary Club of Canterbury, it was decided that four peace poles would be constructed in the Victoria Gardens (Kew), near the children's playground (commonly referred to as Possum Corner). That vision has been completely accomplished. On Saturday 11th April 2026, a group of members from both The Rotary Club of Canterbury and The Rotary Club of Kew, came together to plant indigenous and native plants in the area surrounding the four peace poles. I met Jen Martin, the designer of this garden zone, who runs a business called Jen Martin Landscape Architecture (JMLA). It is a beautiful location in a wonderland part of Kew, just off High Street and adjacent to Adeney Avenue. The Boroondara Council prepared the site for the plantings which included pollinator friendly plants.
A lot of hard, creative work was completed by members of both The Rotary Club of Canterbury and The Rotary Club of Kew. A big thanks goes to Jill Woinarski, Elizabeth Shepherd, Cathie Macmillan, Michelle Critchley, John Womersley, Steve Clarke, John Pocock and Joe Flinn from The Rotary Club of Canterbury. A big thanks goes to Russell Heath, Andrew Dalziel, Hengameh Amiry, Pam Norton and Cam Dias from The Rotary Club of Kew.
The four peace poles, surrounded by the plantings, is a beautiful, natural feature of the Victoria Gardens. It also reminds us of one of the avenues of service within Rotary International - that of programs in which participants learn ways to encourage peaceful interconnections with individuals in all parts of the world. While children and families quietly and happily play near these peace poles, they and their adult carers and family members will be reminded of the message which Rotary International inspires.
While the weather may have been inclement towards the end of the planting session, the good will inspired by these peace poles is an enduring fixture of the way an organisation like Rotary International continues to send out positive messages to the world.
