Once it was a waterfall. Then it became a rock garden. Now, thanks to the planning, hard work and generosity of the Wingham Advancement Group, it is being rebirthed as a contemporary cascade.
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In 1972 the Apex Club of Wingham built a waterfall in the north-eastern corner of Central Park.
In 1981, just before Wingham Council underwent amalgamation to become a part of Greater Taree City Council, the waterfall fell into disrepair.
Rather than having it repaired to working condition, the decision was made to turn it into a rock garden.
Work is now well underway to build a new and improved waterfall.
“We are re-imagining and reconstructing the waterfall to transcend the mid 20th century Apex concept and provide a gateway into the 21st century,” WAG president Alan Valentine said.
“This is WAG’s donation to the community through this project.”
The completed waterfall will consist of a series of seven steps, with seven water forms, purchased by WAG from Living Water Flowforms in Byron Bay, curving around the structure.
On Tuesday, January 10 three members of WAG plus Les Zanardi, who donated his time and his digger, placed the tank that will hold the water.
Mr Valentine said that WAG were so impressed by Les Zanardi and his work that Les was made an honorary member of WAG as a result.
The next step in construction is to have filtration fitted, the bricks laid, the flow forms put in place, and installation of a pump.
WAG are donating $3000 toward the project and are seeking extra funding from other areas.
The fence currently surrounding the works, plus water and electricity, are being provided by council.
WAG hopes to have the waterfall finished no later than April.
When it is completed, phase two of the project will commence, which comprises landscaping, paving and two benches.
Mr Valentine said that WAG communicated and consulted with the surviving members or their widows over the project, and they were all thrilled the waterfall was being rebuilt.
The new waterfall will be named the WAG Apex Waterfall.
Julia Driscoll
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
