Town Talk | Shepparton’s communal dream

It was the best idea Shepparton had ever had. It came from the town clerk, Roy O’Brien, and was supported by council.

It was 1972.

There is no point crying over milk spilt more than two decades ago. However, occasionally, there is value in glancing at the past — to inform the present.

Shepparton International Village

A delegation of three Shepparton men visited Canberra. They were Crs O’Brien, John Gerrard and Kevin Riordan. They visited 11 embassies and received a promise of support from each.

The village was officially opened in 1975. And, over time, buildings emerged — representing various countries. Japan, Holland and Greece were the first three.

Government funding was provided to create an attractive park with man-made lakes and bridges, a moat to surround the park and buildings reflecting our many immigrant communities.

No-one expected it to grow overnight, and it didn’t. There was slow, careful and worthwhile progress. Many of these buildings were unique — designed for us — and our visitors.

The children’s play centre was state of the art — at that time.

It was happening, and it was a beautiful place to take visitors.

Shepparton Rotary Club

A tremendous amount of work (and a considerable amount of money) was donated to the people of Shepparton over a decade. The club was asked to take over management in 1981. Lance Woodhouse appears to have been the main driver, and he is believed to have said that the failure of the village was his greatest disappointment.

I have no documentation to prove this, but I am told that, in Rotary’s last year in charge, 33,000 people visited our immaculate and beautiful international village.

Take them for a drive

Over time, especially after the newspaper moved into the Melbourne Rd building, The News had many visitors from other newspapers. People visited from as far as Darwin. Someone would need to give up most of the day to look after our guests. And quite often, it was me. We’d give them a coffee and a couple of valuable ideas (because that’s what they came for). Then the boss would say, “Take them for a drive”.

Well, where would you take visitors at that time? Drive along a couple of nice residential streets, past the lake, through the CBD, perhaps past SPC — and then, thankfully, to the international village.

Without any exception, they thought our village was wonderful. There was particular interest in the Keeping Place, which was and is fantastic.

Many others did the same thing. I know that Bill Brown, during his stints at the Tourist Information Centre, frequently drove a small busload of visitors to the village.

1994

Due to Jeff Kennett’s local government restructuring, three commissioners replaced our council in 1994. They set up three panels, each of six people, and one of these panels was to evaluate the village. Their suggestions included the idea that some of the 27 hectares could be used for residential purposes. It appears that a decision was made, and the site was to be renamed. This was bad news, indeed. What would you call an international village except just that? An international village! Now it was to be called Parkside Gardens. Why?

There was strong opposition from the people of Shepparton. They were proud of their village — although many had noticed that council was not taking good care of it.

They decided to fight for it.

In December 1995, the three commissioners rezoned part of the village to allow the sale of 111 lots.

1997

Council’s Parkside Gardens Management Committee commissioned a report from landscape architect Elizabeth Peck. Its purpose was to determine if the international village site — the 12.7 hectares within the moat — was suitable for botanic gardens.

Working from Ms Peck’s report, this is what was on the site at this time:

• Entrance building and kiosk.

• The Keeping Place (craft and art workshops).

• Homes representing Japan, the Philippines, Greece, China (large and beautiful garden) and the Dutch Windmill (Used by local clubs and groups for meetings and activities).

• A façade of a Korean building (ex Brisbane Expo).

• A large children’s playground (which was trendy).

• Maltese taxi boat display.

• Dolls’ House display building.

• An amphitheatre (used by Shepparton Theatre Arts Group and groups such as Girl Guides, and for large meetings).

• Boat shed.

• Several jetties.

• An aviary of exotic birds.

• Picnic and barbecue shelter.

• Toilet block.

• A rose garden planted by local groups.

• An open-air craft market operated at weekends and was well attended.

• Water sports took place on the moat, and the schools also used it.

The report made many recommendations. Although the soil wasn’t wonderful (my words, not hers), provided it was treated before planting, trees and shrubs would grow successfully.

Her report was positive. The existing infrastructure would reduce capital works costs. The moat would enhance the gardens. There was plenty of parking; there were picnic facilities and a kiosk.

Ms Peck also mentioned the benefit to north Shepparton — as passive, recreational features were located in the south — and said all other major regional centres had public gardens. Above all, she felt that the Keeping Centre and the international buildings could co-exist with the botanic gardens; that what was there would help bring people to the gardens, during the period of landscape implementation and change. Had Ms Peck’s report been accepted by council, this city would have had something outstanding. Surely, even the councillors would see that!

However, the report was not available to the public. Surely, it would have been released if it suited council’s purpose — but it didn’t. It was far too late to be useful; it was eventually leaked, and this is the copy from which I am working.

After this report was concluded (June 1997), the Japanese building — gifted to us by the people of Japan — was burnt down, presumably by vandals.

In 2000, Bill Brown wrote a detailed letter to this newspaper — concerned about the neglect and vandalism at the council-owned village. Pat Moran responded, and a public meeting was called.

Invitations were sent to chief executive Bill Jaboor and councillors. The meeting was well attended, and the Greater Shepparton Botanic Gardens Association was formed that night.

Not one councillor (nor Mr Jaboor) attended the meeting.

Learning about much of this as I listen, read and write, it appears that the decision to put homes on this land was made in 1994 — when the name change occurred. If so, was the report provided by Ms Peck simply expensive window dressing? It was certainly ignored by council when the opportunity was there to undo the damage done by the commissioners. Imagine our village as it was in the good days, with our botanic gardens sharing the space.

And it was for this that the fight continued.

There is a decade more to this story. I plan to conclude it next week, with the assistance of some of the key players.

Every one of you matters

I’m sure you know by now that our readers really matter — to me and this newspaper. Please be assured that not everything that is said or written to me is for publication. As I’ve just said to one lady — this head holds many secrets, and there’s always room for one more.

God bless you all, and may it be easy, my friends

Marnie,

Emails: Towntalk@sheppnews.com.au

Letter: Town Talk. Shepparton News. P.O. Box 204. Shepparton 3631.

Phone: Send a text to 0418 962 507. (Note: text only. I will call you back if you wish.)