Japanese Gardens Cowra
Cowra is a charming town surrounded by vineyards, waterways, and pretty countryside in the beautiful Lachlan Valley. It is home to fascinating historical buildings and military history, as well as tranquil gardens and fine wines.
Norm is going to lead us all to the Cowra Japanese Gardens and Cultural Centre for a good look around. From their website:
There are numerous Japanese Gardens throughout the world, however this Garden is more than just a Garden, it is a powerful symbol of good will, encouraging reconciliation and peace.
The Cowra Japanese Garden covers 5 hectares – the largest in the southern hemisphere! It was built here because of Cowra’s special significance to the Japanese. The unique relationship of Cowra and Japan originated on a cold night in August 1944, when more than a thousand Japanese prisoners of war broke out of the prison camp.
The 231 Japanese soldiers who died in the escape were buried nearby and local members of the Returned Serviceman’s League tended their graves. As mutual respect grew over the years between Japan and the citizens of Cowra, the idea of a garden arose which would be a symbolic representation of the landscape of Japan.
Many Japanese believe that the Buddha willed the Cowra citizens to create this garden so that the spirits of the Japanese soldiers could rest in peace.
See more at https://www.cowragarden.com.au.
Run Grade: This is a ‘cruiser’ run, suitable for most drivers. It features a mix of country roads and highways. The Club’s Grading System is described at https://nsw.mx5.com.au/events/important-information/run-gradings.
RSVP to Norm Barker at normanroz17@aussiebb.com.au.
