What’s planted along Anzac Parade?

Tim The Yowie Man takes a look at the symbolism of the plants along Anzac Parade, as the city prepares for its April 25 commemoration.

Transcript

00:00Anzac parade it's one of our cities if not our country's most significant commemorative avenues

00:19now as part of the original design down each side of Anzac parade bluegums Australian bluegums were

00:27planted and then down the middle in the planter boxes were New Zealand hebees that was to signify

00:34the strong bond forged between the two countries Australia and New Zealand during warfare

00:40while most of the bluegums have flourished away from their native environment the hebees however

00:47have struggled and have had to be replaced regularly but right now the national capital

00:53authority who manage the parade have commenced a trial to identify alternative species which might

00:59be able to withstand the challenging growing conditions here as well as replanting several

01:04beds of hebees they are also trialing six new species three Australian including white Anzac

01:10bottle brush Melaleuca white lace and several New Zealand species including Maori maiden and New Zealand

01:18flax lily the trial will ensure that plantings are in good condition for Anzac Day and Remembrance Day

01:25and will test alternatives in each season across a full year

01:29before I go a lot of people ask me about the symbolism of the red stones that run down the

01:39middle of Anzac parade some people interpret it as the blood lost by Australian and New Zealand

01:45soldiers during warfare however as part of the original design the stones which are actually crushed

01:54Canberra red bricks are placed there to signify or to represent the crunch of military boots as they

02:05walk over a parade ground