On Saturday afternoon 35 community members gathered in the park to honour Anne’s deep connection to country people in Cootamundra.

Stockinbingal girl guides formed a guard of honour around the tree and Anne’s son Charles Rees delivered a touching speech, honouring those who had been instrumental in Anne’s life.

Charles made a “very very very special welcome to Kathleen Bachelor”, who donated the tree in honour of Anne.

“The ornamental pear tree is deciduous; it will change through the seasons. It will go from that bare winter grey to that beautiful, white, flowering blossom,” he said.

“We’re going to see now the leaves transform from light green to that darker green over summer and then the autumn transformation from the golden to the red to the burgundy.

“That’s a reflection on Mum; a lady of all seasons.”

Following the speech Charles, his three siblings Kate, Ros and Curtis, and Kathleen planted the tree using a shovel, soil and a generous helping of water.

“Today is really a celebration of friendship and in particular the friendship of two great women,” Charles said.

“Both ladies had a common interest in family, they also shared a lovely bond of poetry and storytelling.

“They were prophetic little writers to one another over sixty years of friendship.

“Kathleen very kindly made the suggestion, when she heard of mum’s death, that she would like to have a tree planted in her honour.

“You are all part of that today; and as a witness to that, you share the friendship.”

Charles touched on the symbiotic relationship between his mother and community groups.

“One thing I wish to honour today is that mum had connections to various organisations in Cootamundra,” Mr Rees said. 

Cootamundra’s mayor Jim Slattery, CWA local branch president Vivien Thomson, past president Sue Woodward, and past secretary Lyn Conkie, Cootamundra Presbyterian Church member Yvonne Forsyth, Jenny Roberts of CADAS Kids and Richard Donnelly formerly of CADAS Kids, and representatives from Stockinbingal girl guides all attended.

To wrap up formalities Wiradjuri elder Bob Glanville conducted a special indigenous smoking ceremony. 

“I’d like to give a brief smoking ceremony on behalf of Anne,” he said.

“Reconciliation is so strong not only in Cootamundra but in this area because of Anne and people like her,” Mr Glanville said. 

During her life, Anne Rees advocated for indigenous rights and was loved and trusted by the Wiradjuri people.

“She had and always will have great respect from Aboriginal people for what she did."

When the formalities were over Mrs Bachelor praised Mr Rees for the efforts put into proceedings on Saturday afternoon.

“Charles I would like to thank you on behalf of my family for making this such a lovely ceremony,” she said.