Greening Mildura has grown from strength to strength since four friends decided Mildura needed more shade and were prepared to do something about it. Caitlyn Morgan sat down with founding members and new members to discuss the history of the group and future plans. Pictures: Ben Gross
WHEN four friends discussed the lack of shade in Mildura, particularly the CBD, they never imagined that discussion would be the start of a non-for-profit organisation, now with almost 40 members on the books.
But that is exactly what happened five years ago.
Greening Mildura co-ordinator and founding member Gail Mottram says while the group couldn’t be more diverse, everyone shares the same values and goals.
“We have school teachers, solar farm company owners, a lot of retirees and people with actual horticulture qualifications and we all share a concern for the environment,” she says.
“We live in the hottest and driest part of Victoria and understand we need every single tree. Every tree we have got is valuable, they are all so important.
“We are all like minded and want to encourage the community to help beautify the area.”
Over the years, Greening Mildura members have hosted a range of events with the aim to educate the community and support the local environment.
“Each year we have given away $1000 worth of trees, which always go like hot cakes,” Gail says.
“We have the Tree Working Group which regularly meets with council to try improve cover, we have hosted annual gardening competitions, which is something the schools really enjoyed being part of, and last year we hosted a forum.
“The special forum featured key note addresses by Gardening Australia presenter Sophie Thomson and Homewood Consulting arborist Ben Kenyon and aimed to encourage the community to help increase the city’s tree canopy.”
Last year Greening Mildura worked closely with multiple Sunraysia schools on a seed-bombing project.
Students across Sunraysia create more than 20,000 seed bombs to revegetate the area between the Mildura Golf Resort, Mildura Landfill and the Eco Village.
Following the success of a seed-bombing project, Greening Mildura now have a major focus on educating the next generation, which they hope to do through various projects.
“Being involved in projects such as the seed-bombing and planting of trees is something kids have fun doing and it’s something they will talk about for years to come,” Gail says.
“We want the opportunity to teach children the value and benefits of trees, shade and the environment. One way we will be doing this is through a project with Irymple Secondary School.
“Following the school holidays, 48 ornamental pear trees will be planted along the driveway and oval, giving anyone who uses and enters the school grounds shade.”
One member who knows the impact of environmental education from a young age is Karin Peagam.
“I still remember planting a native tree at my school in 1968,” she says.
“I have since taken my children back to see it and when they planted a tree at their school in 1994, they have since taken their children back to see the very one they planted.
“For me as a grandmother to look back and see how that impacted us, it’s awesome.
“I really believe that early education stays with you for life.”
Another “special” project Greening Mildura would love to see get off the ground is a children’s forest.
“We would love to build a children’s forest, where families can plant a tree for their child when they are born,” Gail says.
“It’s an idea I would really love to work on, the focus is now finding land and water for the project.”
