An interpretive sign along O’Keefe Avenue, north of Cohen’s Bridge, was unveiled on Saturday, which pays tribute to the former community leader and politican and the work carried out by community groups and volunteers involved in an impressive enhancement project. 

O’Keefe Avenue was named after Frank O’Keefe – a Rotarian, sportsman and long-standing politician – in the 1960s as part of an initiative of the Rotary Club of Gunnedah.

The club planted an avenue of silky oak and river red gum trees as an ‘imposing entrance’ to Gunnedah from the Aerodrome. 

In 2011, Gunnible Landcare, in partnership with the Namoi Catchment Management Authority, Gunnedah Shire Council, Livestock Health and Pest Authority, Liverpool Plains Land Management, Whitehaven Coal, local Red Chief Lands Council and the Rotary Club of Gunnedah, began working on an enhancment program in the area.

They replanted missing silky oak and river red gum trees along the avenue and established a biodiversity area behind the interpretive sign.

There is a focus to promote more regular maintenance of the road reserve and riverine precinct. 

“There is a saying that you only get one chance to make a first impression,” O’Keefe Avenue sub-committee chair Geoff Hood said. 

“For the last decade the area had been a bit neglected, and people were saying ‘they should do something to enhance things’.

“These strategic plantings link existing vegetation from the Namoi River through to the Pig Hole lagoon, through to O’Keefe Avenue – mostly koala friendly trees,” he said.

Volunteers and community groups have also spent countless hours cleaning up the riverine area along the foreshore of the Namoi River, where invasive weeds, trees and rubbish has been cleared, allowing the public access to the river.

“This has been a challenging area. The results of the clean-up are clear to see, short couch grass is starting to appear where tall Johnson grass, weeds and burrs used to be,” Mr Hood said. 

The sign was unveiled by Gunnedah Mayor Owen Hasler, who has also been involved with the urban riverine clean-up project, and Geoff Hood. 

“It’s a marvellous entrance to our town and a wonderful reflection on what landcare groups do for our communities,” Mr Hasler said. 

“We recognise that the riverine area is not a dumping ground, but a valuable attribute to our community.”

Special recognition was also given to those groups involved in the enhancement project.

“They have picked up rubbish, pruned trees, mown and slashed many times, tendered to and watered trees, installed fencing and provided sumptious morning tea and support,” Mr Hood said.

Mr O’Keefe’s nephews, Graeme Curtis and Don Pascoe, were present at the unveiling, both pleased to be a part of the official opening. 

“It’s a credit to you all,” Mr Curtis said. 

“Frank would have been very proud I’m sure.”