January 20th, 2023Kingston Avenue of Honour resource centre opens

On Saturday 5th November at the Commercial @ Kingston Hotel, Dr Robert Webster OAM, Victorian RSL State President, opened the ‘Kingston Remembers’ Resource Centre. Kingston was the chosen site of the Creswick Shire Avenue of Honour, planted over 100 years ago.

Fifty invited guests listened to several speakers including Montanah McMillan and Campbell Spittle, both in their twenties, whose relatives are commemorated in the Avenue. Guests also viewed a short film called ‘Kingston Remembers’ produced by Terry Hope.
Kingston Friends of the Avenue Inc. were successful under the State Government and Victorian Veteran’s Council Victoria Remembers Minor Grant Program which funds projects that honour and commemorate veterans’ service and educate Victorians about veterans’ contributions.
Dr Robert Webster OAM thanked the Victorian State Government and the Victorian Veterans Council for their support of the project. He continued “the Resource Centre honours the World War I service of men and women commemorated in the former Shire of Creswick Avenue of Honour”.
The Resource Centre will preserve and share the stories and history of the Avenue. It consists of film, interviews, resource books and memorabilia. Photographs and certificates are displayed in a beautifully crafted diorama installed on the wall of the Commercial @ Kingston.
Multimedia equipment will show the recorded interviews, short films about the Avenue, and Peter Rickard’s Sentinels of Service – Volunteers of the Kingston Avenue of Honour in eBook format.
It is a place where visitors can stop, reflect and learn more about the people commemorated in the Avenue. Visitors can also drive along Kingston Road, through the Avenue of 286 magnificent heritage-listed trees.
The Friends are indebted to Trace Williams for her creativity and for project managing the team that made the diorama and to Sue Gunn for providing the space to display it and other pieces.
We are grateful to the many local people who assisted in the creation of this Resource Centre, and to all those who loaned or donated memorabilia for display, and those who provided interviews or photographs for the project.
Julie Baulch, president of the Kingston Friends of the Avenue, thanked all those who contributed to this project by sharing their skills and resources.
The committee of the Friends of the Avenue awarded Julie an honorary life membership for her persistence, vision, and dedication to the Kingston Avenue of Honour. This certificate was presented by Dr Robert Webster OAM.
The Resource Centre can be visited during The Commercial @ Kingston’s opening hours, from 12pm Friday, Saturday or Sunday, or by appointment. The Commercial @ Kingston is located at 410 Kingston Road, Kingston, Victoria, 3364. For more information, call 0408 007 464 or 5345 6576 or visit http://kingstonavenueofhonour.org.au or the Kingston Avenue of Honour Facebook page. Kingston Friends of the Avenue can be contacted at kingstonfoa@gmail.com