Our garden site is by the school playground among a wonderful grove of Red Gum trees. The garden team, spurred on by Pauline Fitzgerald, consists of Lukyn
Ridgway, Neal Dhondt, Nicholas Holt, William McKerrell, Jack
Lonergan, Guy Fredericks and help from other school students from time to time. They have worked extremely hard raking, digging, collecting stones, using mattock and tools to prepare our special garden space. The enthusiasm and effort is highly impressive!
A winding path was created among the Gum trees which has been laid in river pebbles generously donated by "Martin's Soil" when they learned about our project. Our original thought was to make a therapeutic labyrinth pathway or a spiral... however, the land had its own movement and Kieran found the simple winding paths which flowed best in that area, uncovering natural steps and lovely rock formations. In the end we had a spiral with a backward winding quality of a labyrinth!
The pebbles make it so that as soon as you step upon the path you become acutely aware of your feet and need for balance. The noise of the pebbles resound back and you also are made self aware of "how" you are treading on this earth...if rushing too fast, too roughly, gently or with enough care.
The giant sandstone slabs were selected from the Glenorie Quarry "Positive Earth Moving" who were kind enough to sell them
at a reduced price when they learned about our project.
School parents, Claire Dowd, Margaret Methven, Helen Cameron and Mary Dondt have lent a hand and
have raised funds to buy native flowering plants to line the pathways.
Jim Tunstall, Warrah's gardener, and Paul Attard, Warrah's handyman have also helped with the labour efforts and contributed their knowledge and skills. It was quite a feat rolling the heavy stones off our truck! It takes 8 men to lift each stone!
The sandstones were carved by Kieran in special designs he created of the qualities of the four elements. The outer stone, which one faces both as entering and leaving, is carved on both sides. One side depicts a Celtic design comprising all 4 elements interwoven as one.
The stones were set in place with a special community singing ceremony as the stones
were unveiled and received into the earth. As part of the ceremony we were very fortunate to
have a performance by the superb internationally renowned lyre player,
John Billing.
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| John
Billing |
The standing stones not only give artistic beauty, but bring consciousness to one's uprightness as one travels along the garden path and meets these stones
as silent presences reminding to be thankful for what each element gives us. In the centre is a natural stone shaped like a flame.
We hope our Warrah Sacred garden will be a peaceful place to bring inner refreshment as well as beauty for the whole community.
The garden was completed and the stone-raising ceremony took place on June
30, 2002. Kieran had to leave for a garden project in Egypt in July.
We feel this has been quite an inspiring and positive project!
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