A pedestrian bridge has been bequeathed to Woodend by much-loved member of the community, Jo Clancy.
Jo was passionate about the work done by the local landcare group, where her love of nature stretched beyond her garden, and her passion for activism was given free rein.
Occupying many leadership roles including the presidency, she put her energies into networking, through Rotary, Lions, the Heritage Society, U3A, the Landcare Network, Catchment Management Authority and the council. Some of this work received official recognition in 2016 when her favourite stretch of rail reserve (Quarry Road) was officially assessed to be rich in botanical significance. As Jo’s health began to wane, she made the decision to make a bequest that would benefit the local Woodend community. She enlisted several landcare colleagues and friends and entrusted them to carry out her wishes with the money when she died.
Jo’s de-facto ‘backyard’ was the public land along the southern banks of the Five Mile Creek between Bowen Street and Wood Street (she lived on the corner of Wood and Urquhart Streets).
She would regularly walk her dog Minnie in that area and was aware of the need for a pedestrian bridge there one day. In fact, Jo was involved in the revegetation of that area and the creation of the gravel walking track.
Landcare deliberately left a gap in the plantings in case a future bridge became possible. Little did they know in 2005 that Jo’s generosity would turn the dream into reality 18 years later!
Just over five years ago, Jo suffered heart failure and died with her sister Eveline and nephew Jacob by her side, and surrounded by the love of her large extended family.
True to her word, Jo left a large sum of money to be used to benefit her community.
Woodend Landcare president Peter Yates said getting the bridge built had taken four years of work by many people.
“Because it is on public land, approvals had to be obtained from various bodies and a design had to be done that complied with the various requirements,” Peter said.
“With Jo’s nephew Jacob helping us along the way, landcare navigated the various hurdles and now we can see the fabulous result.
“Woodend now has a great new asset at almost no cost to the ratepayers. Thank you Jo.”
A ceremony will be held at the new bridge site on Sunday June 18 beginning at 11am. All welcome.
