The Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Garden by the Lake Benalla foreshore, planned and planted by the Lions Club, was officially opened on Saturday, March 18.
The event was attended by Federal Member for Indi Helen Haines, State Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland, Benalla Rural City councillors and members of the public.
Dr Haines spoke to those in attendance and congratulated the Benalla Lions for their efforts in obtaining the grant and planting the garden.
‘’These gardens were initiated as part of the Queen’s 70th jubilee celebrations,“ Dr Haines said.
“All across the Commonwealth gardens have been planted, trees, roses, all sorts of interpretations of what a jubilee garden might look like.
“At the time these were planned it wasn’t to memorialise the Queen so it’s not a memorial garden, it’s a jubilee garden.
“Here in Indi we had some funds to distribute and we called for expressions of interest from groups around the electorate, and the Benalla Lions were successful.
“It’s here for years to come and these trees will grow and this sign will be here to remind people why it’s here.”
Benalla Rural City Councillor Danny Claridge congratulated the Lions on their hard work.
"This garden is absolutely fantastic,“ Cr Claridge said.
“I was just saying to Lions member David Lowing how lucky we are in Benalla to have an area like this in the middle of our CBD which is bushland and it’s just wonderful.
“You can sit here and reflect on the past with the Aboriginal garden and now the Queen’s Jubilee garden too. Well done to Lions.”
Mr Lowing said the garden was ready to go in November and had survived being flooded, and a storm with took out trees across the Rose City.
‘’Even after the flood and storm we had to wait for the clean-up,’’ Mr Lowing said.
‘’We are glad to be here today opening the garden. Now it’s time to have a cup of tea and some cakes to celebrate.’’