General News
26 July, 2024
Garden's future secured as community asset
To help with the final push over the line, the Warracknabeal Town Hall committee has chosen to turn the Band Concert on Sunday July 28 into a fundraiser for the Community Garden. The event will be held at the Town Hall, beginning at 2.30pm.
Warracknabeal businesses and townsfolk have banded together to ensure the Warracknabeal Community Garden’s location on Scott Street, along with its future as a community asset, will remain secure for many years to come.
The Community Garden Group - which operates as a sub-group of the Warracknabeal Action Group (WAG) - was formed following the results of a PhD project by Rural Northwest Health which outlined the positive effects community gardens had on the health and wellbeing of a town’s residents.
The PhD student was local pharmacist Dr John Aitken.
The Community Garden Group spent time considering the location of the gardens and eventually decided Scott Street would be an ideal location due to its accessibility, and a desire to enhance the main street streetscape.
Negotiations began with the Melbourne-based owner of the empty block at 100 Scott Street, and in late December 2014, the lease was signed.
The owner has remained supportive of the community garden concept, and agreed to a “peppercorn rental” which made it possible for the site to be developed into what it is today.
Group members Wendy Hewitt and Marie Aitken said the past 10 years have seen a transformation take place on what was once an empty block covered in weeds.
“It is now an attractive, welcoming and enriching space in the centre of town,” they said.
“It’s there for everyone to share - growing edible produce, sharing gardening skills and knowledge, hosting performances and community workshops, providing a place to connect with others, or purely as a place for quiet relaxation.”
Earlier this year, the Community Garden Group members came up with a strategy to purchase the land, and by Easter, word of the impending sale had spread throughout the town and people came together to support the strategy and donate funds.
Ms Hewitt said she is very pleased to report that progress is well on track.
“The task of raising over $50,000 was daunting,” Ms Hewitt said.
“But the early injection of funds from the Yarriambiack Shire Council was the boost we needed.
“Community members and organisations continue to make generous donations, for which we are humbled and so thankful.
“The support of North West Real Estate, and Power and Bennett solicitors, has also been much appreciated.”
WAG is also keen to help keep the garden in its current location, and recognise the significance of the gardens to the town.
Once the site has been purchased, WAG will become the new owner, and the Community Garden Group will continue with their labour of love, taking care of it.
Ms Hewitt said that in the event WAG ever ceases to exist, the site will be handed over to another community entity, ensuring it will remain an open community space.
“We now have less than $5000 to raise to make the purchase a reality,” she said.
To help with the final push over the line, the Warracknabeal Town Hall committee has chosen to turn the Band Concert on Sunday July 28 into a fundraiser for the Community Garden.
The event will be held at the Town Hall, beginning at 2.30pm.
There will be Community Garden members in attendance from 2.15pm to answer questions about making a donation, and to sell raffle tickets.
“There are several options,” Ms Hewitt said.
“There are information sheets and donation forms in the green Community Pantry, just inside the gates of the Garden, you can drop in to see us on Saturday mornings, or visit DMA and speak to Di Marchment.”
Ms Hewitt said that if they raise more than the amount needed to purchase the block of land (“What a wonderful problem to have!”), the group will use the extra funds to purchase some particularly expensive items which they have never been able to afford, but would significantly improve the gardens.
“We haven't worked out how yet, but we will be acknowledging every known donation, no matter how big or small,” Ms Hewitt said.
“Your generosity will be greatly appreciated, and will mean the garden remains part of our community for the long-term future.
“We hope to see you at the Town Hall on Sunday afternoon.”