Vanessa Ranken, Barry Franklin, Jim Small MP and Berrigan Mayor Heather Wilton at the official opening of the Barooga Botanical Gardens in 1993.
A little over 34 years ago, the Rotary Club of Cobram called a meeting to discuss a proposed botanical gardens to be developed on six acres of land in Nangunia St, Barooga.
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The site under discussion comprised an old gully on an abandoned and neglected cricket ground.
After much discussion, Rotarians believed it would be possible to revitalise the site and create a community garden and parkland, an area that could be enjoyed by the whole community.
With an agreement reached to go ahead, a committee was formed with president Geoffrey Brentnall, secretary Daryl Yeaman and a committee consisting of N. Wright, M. McCormack, K. Rich, D. West, N. Wyat, H. Bailey, B. Franklin, H. Wilton, A. Taggert, S. Brooks and D. Wright.
For the president and secretary, who both lived close to the site, the proposal had special meaning and the pair became determined to transform it into a unique community space.
A landscape plan was designed by Vanessa Ranken and submitted to Berrigan Shire Council for approval, and an agreement was reached to proceed with the first stage.
However, as the land was also the town’s storm water drainage area, hundreds of metres of storm water piping was needed to be manually laid across the site.
It was a huge physical task, completed by the group of volunteers, predominantly comprised of local farmers.
Cobram Irrigation owner Robert Love provided equipment at cost price and volunteers did the hard work.
A roster was prepared for volunteers to change the sprinkler heads daily in order to cover the entire site.
Apex members Doug Wright, Geoff Brentnall, Peter Mogg, Peter Gilmour and Bill Dopper presents a cheque for $30,000 at the official opening of the Barooga Botanical Gardens.
Cobram Rotary members and volunteers from both border towns had set to work cleaning up the site, laying out tracks and pathways using gravel from the Tocumwal Quarry.
Local firm K&H Bailey Excavation supplied equipment, and volunteers got to work spreading and grading the pathways.
By winter 1993, the site had begun to take shape and thousands of trees were purchased and planted under the expert guidance of Vanessa Ranken.
The organising committee was extremely grateful to the community for the $6000 it raised through an extensive door-knocking appeal.
Some of the trees purchased were quite rare and would provide an attractive canopy and abundance of shade for the future botanical gardens.
These included Wollemi Pine, Cape Chestnut, Calodendrum Capanse, Ginkgo tree and Nyssa to name a few.
Grass was planted and established and the Barooga Lions Club mowed the areas.
Following this, the Cobram Barooga Golf Club agreed to cut the grass for the next 12 months and eventually Berrigan Shire Council provided two mowers to be operated by local volunteers in the future.
Before the official opening of the Barooga Botanical Gardens on November 21, 1993, donations from many generous groups indicated the people of Cobram and Barooga were committed to its future.
The Cobram Apex Club proudly donated $30,000, raised through the annual Peaches and Cream Festival.
It was offered on the proviso that a club member was elected to the committee.
Cobram Rotary Club donated $1500, Barooga Card Club $200, Barooga Sporties $500, Barooga Tree Group $1000, Sporties Bowls Club $400 and Barooga Lions Club $250.
One year earlier in 1992, the Early Childhood Association donated $6000 for playground equipment.
The official proceedings at the opening ceremony began with the Murray Valley Brass band leading a march towards the gardens, where hundreds of people were gathered.
Welcoming the crowd was Member for Murray Jim Small, Berrigan Shire Mayor Heather Wilton and the project’s landscape designer, Vanessa Ranken.
An official granite stone monument had been obtained from the Tocumwal quarry and placed in the gardens bearing an inscribed plaque and sundial in recognition of this special place, which became possible through the efforts of an army of local volunteers. This was donated by Daryl Yeaman and his sister B. Huggard.
As work progressed, so did the enthusiasm of the border communities to make the gardens more user-friendly.
Funding was secured to add a barbecue area, a toilet block and electricity to the site.
Cobram/Barooga Soroptomist donated $400 and Kiwanis also donated $400 towards the development.
Two stunning 50-year-old palm trees were transplanted from Seppelts Vineyard in Barooga in 1994 and replanted near the main entrance to the gardens.
A cedar tree from the Barooga school was also transplanted that same year.
The generosity of the community has been unbelievable and the willingness to help out and get the job done was an example to other towns of what is possible.
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