Premier joins community for Botanic Gardens Celebration
Published on 19 February 2016
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk MP will join the Rockhampton region community to celebrate what a difference a year has made since Cyclone Marcia at the Botanic Gardens this weekend.
The Premier last toured the Gardens in March 2015, witnessing first-hand the destruction and restoration journey that lay ahead for the community.
To highlight the massive restoration progress over the past twelve months, 29 portraits of destruction will be on display throughout the Gardens and Zoo to provide a ‘then and now’ experience for the community.
Rockhampton Region Mayor Margaret Strelow says many of the portraits are images that our community has never seen before.
“This is a great opportunity for our community to see for the first time just how serious the damage was inside our Gardens – it was unrecognisable.
The portraits will be displayed at the Cenotaph, along Bunya Pine Avenue, the Zoo and other areas that were severely damaged.
“During those initial days after the cyclone, The Australian Army’s work to help us get back into the Gardens was absolutely remarkable.
“We couldn’t have done it without them, and we wouldn’t have been able to restore the Gardens as quick as we did without them.
“We recently received a letter from the Army which said, ‘…sometimes we under-estimate the will-power of our community, the resilience, commitment and dedication to re-build the Region they love.’ ”
“It has also been a massive feat by our very own staff who have continuously been restoring the gardens for a year now.
“The 20th of February will be a time for community reflection, and I look forward to sharing the day with everyone on Saturday.”