AN ALL-but-forgotten memorial park in Flinders St, Westdale is being rejuvenated by a group of willing workers, with a little help from their friends at council.
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OMNI Men’s Shed was made aware of the park by Flinders St resident Bird Jensen, who’s lived there for almost seven years.
The men’s group has enlisted the aid of Challenge Disability Services to help get the park back in shape, so it can be utilised by the growing Westdale community and for social gatherings.
“There used to be play equipment there, but that was removed,” Ms Jensen said.
“My elderly neighbour across the road can remember the park and the Westdale hall, which was once on the site, as it was a real social hub and meeting place for residents.
“I’ve always been very conscious of the fact it was a memorial park and I take flowers there each Anzac Day.”
OMNI Men’s Shed asked the council to mow the park and erect a bus shelter there and was delighted that both requests were attended to quickly.
In the Chronological History of Tamworth, Lyall Green and Warren Newman noted the hall was opened in 1924, as the population in the area had grown sufficiently enough to warrant a public hall.
It said there was also a tennis court alongside the hall, which would have ensured it was “the place to be” in those days.
“Westdale Hall was last used in about 1967 and demolished three years later,” the good book tells us.
OMNI spokesman Jim Finucane is quite passionate about the project and he and his Men’s Shed mates have some great plans for the once-neglected public space.
One of those plans is to host a St Patrick’s Day barbecue there, and eventually, they would like to see a replica of the memorial that once honoured Westdale men and women to be erected at the park, so it lives up to its name.
Anyone who would like to lend a hand, or find out more about the project, can go along to the Westdale Mini Mart on Friday at 3pm where ideas will be thrown around and all suggestions listened to.
