The Jacaranda trees (Jacaranda mimosifolia) planted in Hamley Bridge were planted as ‘trees of tribute’ to the men and women serving in the army, navy and air force during World War II.
News From Country Centres
. . . A meeting in the Hamley Bridge institute for the purpose of discussing planting trees in honor of those who have enlisted in the fighting services, decided to plant 35 trees in Gilbert street. . . .
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 – 1954), Thursday 24 July 1941, page 31
News From Rural Centres
HAMLEY BRIDGE. — A gathering of relatives and friends of the men of the services met in front of the ‘Junction News’ office to plant ornamental trees in honor of men who have enlisted from here for the services. Councillors R. M. McKenzle and F H. Baker and Mr. A. H. Harkness have been most energetic in the movement. Mr. W. J. Marshman (chalrman of the District Council of Owen) delivered a short address, after which trees were planted.
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Friday 12 September 1941, page 7
News From Country Centres
At a public meeting at Hamley Bridge it was decided to complete the planting of jacaranda trees in Gilbert street and to plant red flowering gums from the institute to Albert street.
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 – 1954), Thursday 6 August 1942, page 2
In August/September 1941 thirty-seven trees were planted, 4 being for associations. One more was to be planted as there was an omission on the day.
Where possible, a member of the family (wife, mother, father or sibling) planted the tree. On the planting day in 1941 and 1943 donations were received to purchase name plates for the trees.
RURAL REPORTS
HAMLEY BRIDGE. — More trees of tribute to service boys and girls have been planted.
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 – 1954), Saturday 4 September 1943, page 7
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The reports of the 1941 and 1943 plantings mentioned the names of the people involved but the 1946 report did not. Relatives and friends of service personnel were asked to contact Councillor Barclay to have a tree planted.
Gums and jacarandas were also planted at the top of the ‘White Banks’ (an area between Owen Road and the Light River, south of the township), by RSL members in memory of their fallen comrades, after WWII.
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Images courtesy of the Hamley Bridge Community Association
There were 88 volunteers listed for Hamley Bridge in the Junction News as at March 1945, so the 3rd planting could have been about 30 trees. Tallying the number of trees by comparing the list of volunteers and names of those who had a tree planted, is a little confusing, as some of the trees represented men from the nearby settlements of Alma and Barabba, and some names don’t appear on any of the local lists. Probably these men enlisted from elsewhere, but had a tree planted on their behalf by their local Hamley Bridge families.
FIRST PLANTING – Junction News 5 September 1941
A gathering of relatives and friends of the men of the services met in front of the ‘Junction News’ Office, to plant ornamental trees in honour of men who have enlisted from here for the services. Councillors RM McKenzie and FH Baker and Mr AH Harkness have been most energetic in the movement.
The report mentions the speeches made, etc, after which each of the trees, were planted by a relative or local community member, as listed below:
F B Oakey Mrs B Oakey
EB Oakey Mrs B Oakey
C Jeffrey Miss J Jeffrey
F Sandeman Mrs Short
TW Plain Mrs W Plain
L Bell Mrs JH Bell
A Branson Mrs A Brooks
F Branson Mrs AW Branson
E Durdin Miss B Durdin
M Branson Mrs H J E Branson
F Story Mrs R Baeker
H Hunter Master R Hunter
J M Bohnsack Mr HM Bohnsack
WJE King Mr B Oakey
G O’Brien Mrs J O’Brien
W Duffield Mrs W Duffield
C Wait Mr RM McKenzie
L Speck Mrs E Speck
HN Ellis Mr J Snaddin
J Bennett Mrs M O’Dea
RM Whitburn Mrs W Whitburn
G Bell Mrs A Bell
S Stott Mrs J Stott
L Gillies Mrs H S Gillies
P Finey Mrs RP Finey
E Page Mr F H Baker
E Page Mr F H Baker
S McKenzie Mr J L McKenzie
R Bell Mrs E Heneker
E Hutton Miss D Hutton
J Hallion Mrs M Hallion
D Wait Mr F H Baker
L Doyle Mrs MO Doyle
R C Fidock Mrs TEA Fidock
Red Cross Mrs RM Whitburn
Comforts Fund Mrs L M Dyer
RSA Mr B Oakey
DC Owen Mr W J Marshman
Afternoon tea was kindly served by the ladies of the Citizens Comforts Fund in the Institute. A collection of £2/14/- was taken up for the purpose of purchasing name plates for the trees.
An omission was made in the tree planting in that a tree was not planted for ACIA Lawrie, son of Mr and Mrs J Lawrie, but arrangements have been made for Mr Lawrie to plant a tree in his honour.
