Opening of Gippsland Plains Rail Trail on October 1st

Below is the contents of a flyer from the committee. Congratulations on all their hard work. Click here for more details of the rail trail

Get into the spirit of the Commonwealth Games and celebrate the opening of the Maffra to Stratford section of the Gippsland Plains Railtrail on Saturday 1st of October 2005.

Join in a fantastic community day on Saturday October 1st to celebrate the re-opening of the railway link between Stratford and Maffra. Celebrations at both the Maffra and Stratford ends of the trail will culminate with the official opening of the Maffra to Stratford section of the Gippsland Plains Railtrail. This 7 kilometer section of the railtrail will finally provide a safe trail for walkers, cyclists and joggers between Maffra and Stratford.

The Gippsland Plains Railtrail is marking the occasion by participating in the Victorian Government’s Tree Planting Program as part of the Commonwealth Games Environment Strategy. The 2006 Commonwealth Games aims to be the first carbon neutral Commonwealth Games. You can help make this happen and be part of history!

The Stratford Women who Mean Business – “Garden for Humanity” will be officially launched on Saturday October 1st. Following this launch, participants are invited to join Commonwealth Games celebrations at the Maffra end of the trail.

1. Commonwealth Games Tree Planting: Come along from 10 am onwards on the east side of the Dept. Sustainability and Environment building on the Maffra-Stratford road to plant one or many trees. Meet Commonwealth Games athletes, Karak, the official Games mascot and watch indigenous dancers. Food will be provided by Maffra Lions Club. There will be a talk and a guided wildflower walk highlighting local lilies and orchids along the trail.

2. The Stratford “Garden for Humanity” will come alive at 10am with local food market stalls, children’s activities, entertainment, tree planting, clay sculpture activities and more. The new garden is situated beside the river on the corner of McMillan and Merrick Streets Stratford.

3. Official Rail Trail Opening: 1pm on the railtrail adjacent to the Commonwealth Games tree planting activities.

4. Sunday 2nd of October will also host a Commonwealth Games Tree Planting at the Dawson Railway Reserve (west of Heyfield) with a wildflower walk and lunch provided by the Heyfield Lions Club.

Please register for the Commonwealth Games Tree Planting at Greening Australia.