World War, giving rise to the misconception that the Avenue of Honour commemorates veterans of both World Wars. Of the 192 trees, 152 commemorate World War One veterans who resided within the former Shire of Mortlake before enlistment. The remaining 40 trees are not dedicated. Due to the neglect, ageing and the effects of Cypress Canker the Moyne Shire Council announced in 2021 that due to public safety, the remaining trees would be removed and replaced with Holm Oaks over a four-year period. The selection of Holm Oaks as the replacement tree brought to a close a decade of intense debate over the future of the Avenue of Honour. While the current plan is to replace the existing trees with Holm Oaks, an alternative plan proposed by local veterans involves extending the length of the Avenue of Honour to allow veterans of all conflicts that local men and women have participated in to be commemorated with a Oak Tree. This would create one of the few Avenue of Honours in Australia to honour veterans of all conflicts and the second longest Avenue of Honour in Victoria. Traditional ownership The formally recognised traditional owners for the area in which Mortlake sits are the Eastern Maar group of Aboriginal peoples, who are represented by the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation (EMAC). Education There are two schools in Mortlake, both co-educational. The largest school is the government school Mortlake P-12 College, with approximately 300 students ranging from Prep to Year 12. There is also a Catholic primary school, St. Colmans, with around 30 students. There is also a Kindergarten. Mortlake is located between two major agricultural districts: Hamilton to the north-west for the wool industry, and to the south-east, the dairy industry. Farms in the area exploit the rich volcanic soil for both farming practices. Industry One of the town's most famous industries, Clarke's Pies, which made pies for distribution all over Victoria, announced in January 2007 that the company had been sold to Patties Foods and that production would cease in early March 2007, leaving around 50 people out of work. Clarke's regularly featured in the top 10% of pie-makers in Australia. As of April 2007, Clarke's have begun producing the original square pie, on a smaller scale, and delivering within the local area. In 2008 it was announced that an export boning room would commence production mid-year in the premises of the