A GREY army of volunteers has helped put the small town of Greenbushes on the map.
Thanks to the efforts of 424 people out of a population of 650, and more than 14,000 volunteer hours, the South West town is joint winner of the community action and wellbeing category of the 2017 Australian Tidy Town Awards.
The honour was shared with Stanley in Tasmania.
Greenbushes was a finalist after being named WA Tidy Towns winner in 2016 – a huge win for the town, which has been entering the competition since 1995.
The award recognises the town’s efforts in minimising use of plastic bottles, creating seven hectares of wetland for native species on a former mining site, and establishing the Greenbushes Community Garden and the School Bush Block project, which involves revegetating an old block opposite the primary school.
Recycled sculptures at the entry to the town also attracted praise.
Tidy Towns co-ordinator Leonie Eastcott said the primary school children had embraced the bush block project, and about 20 community groups had become involved in various other projects.
“A high proportion of our volunteers are in their 50s to 70s,” she said.
“Over the years we have been chipping away upgrading different areas, and it has really made a difference to the town. It’s been great working as a community. When you have worked on something you take ownership of it and feel protective of it.
“From June 1, 2015, to April 30, 2016, 424 people put in a total of 14,291 volunteer hours.”
Grow Greenbushes chairperson Leanne Green said the community garden began seven years ago and is one of the best-recognised in the state.
“We have done a lot of planting, there are wicking beds, a nature scape area, frog pond, mini orchard and bee hotels,” she said.
“In the school bush block project Felicity Littleton, a volunteer with a background in horticulture, has helped kids identify weeds, removing them and plant trees.”
Ms Eastcott hopes grey nomads will be encouraged to visit Greenbushes and stay in the two free camping sites on offer.
The town was highly commended categories including Dame Phyllis Frost litter prevention waste management and resource recovery, environmental sustainability, environmental education and Young Legends.
Australian Tidy Towns judge Jill Grant said the “sense of inclusion and forward planning to create a better life for all residents and a sustainable legacy for the future” were the town’s overarching features.
The overall Tidy Town winner was Barmera in South Australia.
Organised by sustainability and litter-fighting organisation Keep Australia Beautiful, the awards recognise the hard work undertaken by individuals and groups to improve rural towns.
