Memorial ArboretumPrint Page 
The Arboretum commemorates the men who were killed in a helicopter crash near Wandiligong in 1978,
The Bright Memorial Arboretum is situated in Mountbatten Avenue, Bright. This area, originally a Forests Commission Victoria Pine Nursery, was converted into a Seed Garden in 1973 with the aim of supplying seed for the Forests Commission Victoria nurseries at Macedon and Creswick. A wide variety of trees were planted, not all were successful.
A helicopter carrying out a fuel-reduction burning operation crashed near Wandiligong on 19 April 1978, and two Forest Officers, Peter Collier and Stan Gillett and the pilot, John Byrnes, lost their lives. It was decided to develop the former Seed Garden into a Memorial Arboretum in memory of those killed.
The Memorial Arboretum was officially opened on 14 December 1984. Shortly afterwards the Forests Commission Victoria was reorganised and, with changing personnel, the Memorial Arboretum only received minimal maintenance.
In May 2002, a Friends of the Bright Memorial Arboretum was formed and now has over 40 members. The Friends Group is an advisory body to the Department of of Sustainability & Environment, which is very supportive. It is planned that regular maintenance will be carried out and further development will take place as funds become available.
Location
| Address: | Mountbatten Avenue, Bright, 3741 |
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| State: | VIC |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -36.726951 Long: 146.971185 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Park |
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| Monument Theme: | Disaster |
| Sub-Theme: | Fire |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 19-April-1978 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 19-April-1978 |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Friday 14th December, 1984 |
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Memorial
Arboretum
