Almost two years after it was dedicated with a sense of closure for the families involved, the Woden flood memorial is looking worse for wear with trees dead or dying and grasses overgrown.
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Territory and Municipal Services says it had ''identified a number of dead or dying trees at the location of the Woden flood memorial'' which appeared to have died during past drought conditions. TAMS planned to replace the trees, but not until autumn.
Retired policeman Blen McInnes, who helped rescue people during the flood on Australia Day 1971 and agitated for the memorial, said he was disgusted with how it had been left to deteriorate.
Seven trees had been planted two years ago to represent the seven victims of the flood on January 26 - Australia Day - 1971. Five of those trees were now dead or dying.
Native grasses surrounding the memorial were overgrown. Weeds had also grown around the memorial.
Mr McInnes said it made a sorry sight for the families of the victims, especially those from interstate who now visited the memorial as part of their annual pilgrimage to Canberra every Australia Day to remember their lost loved ones.
He said it was a shame given the ceremony to dedicate the memorial had been so significant for the families and called for more regular maintenance of the site.
''It was a beautiful, beautiful thing and to go back there last Friday and see it - I was just shocked and devastated. Hurt,'' he said.
''To go there now, you'd be disgusted.''
Sandra Cumberland, the sister of one of the victims, Lon Cumberland, said her family often visited the memorial.
''It's deplorable,'' she said of the dead trees.
The ACT Government paid for the $58,000 memorial in parkland near Service Street in Curtin. It also includes large engraved stones and seating.
A spokeswoman for TAMS said the trees for the memorial were ''planted while we were still in drought''.
''While we have a tree watering program some young trees unfortunately still die,'' she said.
The trees would be removed by February and had been included in the autumn tree planting program for next year.
''TAMS will also undertake trimming/pruning of the native grasses in the area by the end of this week,'' she said.