THANKS to a promise made by local identity, Shane Gill, the legacy of the late Ivan McKenzie in beautifying the Western entrance to Casterton will continue, with a new workforce and a new name.
Mr Gill, together with fellow volunteer, Wendy Zippel, will undertake the mowing of the area between the Glenelg Highway and Mount Gambier Road service road from Hansen Street to adjacent to the Casterton Memorial Hospital, supported by garden maintenance by the Rotary Club of Casterton.
Visitors to Casterton and locals alike have appreciated the vista of this roadside area for several decades.
In the mid-1990s, Mr McKenzie (known to most as ‘Perce’), a Mount Gambier Road resident, took over mowing of the area from Peter Kellett, who had been keeping the area beautified for many years, but was moving residence.
After winning Tattslotto and deciding to retire from his job at the Glenelg Shire maintenance depot, Mr McKenzie then purchased a new ride-on mower expressly for the purpose of supporting his new volunteer role.
Not satisfied with just maintaining that original area near the service road, with the help of his partner Joyce Yates, he expanded the area to include beautification of the area adjacent the hospital, adding fantastic stone detail and raised garden beds.
Together Mr McKenzie and Ms Yates lovingly looked after this area, year-in and year-out for nearly 30 years – with Mr McKenzie using his ute and water unit to transport water to keep the trees and plants well-hydrated during dry seasons; Ms Yates said it took six loads to complete a “full watering”.
Sadly, with the recent passing of Mr McKenzie, so ends an era for which the Casterton community is forever grateful, however his legacy lives on with that promise made by Mr Gill, which will now be implemented, with a little help from his friends.
Mr Gill, an active and committed member and past president of the Rotary Club of Casterton, announced his and Wendy’s new community commitment to fellow Rotarians and sought their assistance with “the garden side of things”.
The club quickly accepted the challenge, in addition agreeing that a memorial plaque be erected within the grounds Mr McKenzie so carefully tended, to honour his outstanding contribution to the town, with a unanimous agreement the whole area henceforth be known as ‘Perce’s Patch’.
