The Region of South Australia has undertaken to fund and plant 100 trees , as part of the 100 years celebration, to create a wetland adjoining the Women’s Memorial Playing Fields, a large space dedicated to the women who served in the war. A Soroptimist, Miss Helen Black, was active in its establishment. Miss Black was an inaugural member of the playing fields committee, tasked with developing a space to encourage women and girls to be active and physically fit. It was later (in early 1952) turned into a “living memorial” to the nurses who were massacred on Radji Beach at the fall of Singapore.
The playing fields are undergoing a large-scale redevelopment but unfortunately, delays in works have meant that the trees cannot be planted this year. Next year when conditions are best for native tree planting, a wetland will be planted and two groves of trees within the playing fields will be restored with a memorial from Soroptimists along with a plaque commemorating our Federation’s centennial celebration. An original memorial from Soroptimists will be restored as part of the reconstruction.