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COMBINED EFFORT: Whyalla Deputy Mayor Clare McLaughlin with council officers Sam Bourne and Peter Farrer.
The City of Whyalla’s innovative National Tree Day concept proved a winner on the weekend.
Council decided to take National Tree Day back to the garden with a free-plant day. Residents were invited to come down to the library carpark on Saturday where each person was given a native shrub to plant in their own garden.
Not only were 500 shrubs given away, there was a free sausage sizzle cooked by Apex, plus free activities for the kids who got busy planting native seeds in compostable pots with Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management (EPNRM) officers and painted rocks with the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC).
Residents had plenty of choice with a variety of Australian native plants sourced from Arid Lands Botanic Gardens and Council staff were kept busy handing out plants and providing information. The 500 shrubs were gone in three hours with the day best summed by the feedback Council received on its Saturday-morning Facebook post.
“It was great, thank you Whyalla Council,” Kylie said.
“The kids picked a tree each, sat and enjoy and a sausage and drink, went and borrowed a book from the library and then went home to plant their trees.”
PLENTY FOR KIDS: It was free shrubs, sausages and a book for Kylie's tribe on Saturday.
Emma also thought the new concept was a success.
“It was a great idea Whyalla City Council, obviously a winner and spreads the word about nature’s amazing ability to ground us and bring perspective in this big and crazy world,” Emma said.
Dominica simply said it “was super fun”.
OVER THE MOON: Co-ordinator Jenny Barnes with one of the 500 shrubs given away.
Council executive assistant and National Tree Day Coordinator, Jenny Barnes was over the moon with the result. She said the new format was a “huge success” with Deputy Mayor Clare McLaughlin and councillors Tim Breuer, Tom Antonio and Sarah Minney there to help celebrate the day.
“The atmosphere was fantastic, everyone was so happy and rapt to get a free shrub to take home,” Jenny said.
“Parents were smiling, kids were having fun and enjoying their free sausage and we’re sure they all had fun planting their shrub at home to look after in their own garden.
“We gave away 500 plants, 300 snags were devoured along with 18 loaves of bread, plus we gave away around 150 cold drinks and subsidised more than 150 hot drinks from the coffee van.
“There was steady flow of people the entire time … it started in the cold and fog and ended up in brilliant sunshine. “
Those who took a shrub home are encouraged to take a selfie with it after they plant it and then another in a year’s time to track its growth. We’d love to see these pictures next year to help promote the 2019 event.
BUSY DAY: Council officer Sam Bourne with Councillor Tom Antonio.
SHRUBS GALORE: Councillor Tim Breuer with one of the many plants given away.