Hot Topic Archives: Forty years of Tidy Towns
The 40th Anniversary of the Tidy Towns - Sustainable Communities competition was celebrated in February at the launch of the 2009 awards program.
Tidy Towns State Program Manager Gail Dodd said the competition, which had been running since 1969, was the flagship of the DEC-supported Keep Australia Beautiful Council (KABC). The program encourages group participation in recycling, litter prevention, water conservation and the celebration or protection of cultural and natural heritage.
“The 40th anniversary is a time to celebrate the success of the Tidy Towns - Sustainable Cities Awards, and the role DEC staff play in engaging regional communities,” Gail said.
“People may not be aware that almost any regional project can be considered a Tidy Town project.”
The competition’s name changed in recent years from Tidy Towns to Tidy Towns - Sustainable Communities, to reflect its focus on communities reducing their impact on the environment and protecting and conserving their natural and cultural surroundings.
Left to right: Tidy Towns South West Region Coordinator Cathy Campbell, Donna Faragher and Mel Hay cut the fortieth anniversary cake.
Last year’s Tidy Towns - Sustainable Communities winner, Kambalda, demonstrated the power of community spirit.
“Kambalda may not have the scenic beauty of other towns but natural beauty is not what the judges are looking for,” Gail said.
“The town demonstrated community pride through a range of projects including plastic-bag free Thursdays, a student-initiated recycling program, a prickly pear eradication program, tree planting and water conservation such as mulching, water wise gardens and the installation of grey water systems.”
Gail also said Indigenous cultural heritage was important to the program.
“Entrants are encouraged to focus on what’s important for their communities, such as recording oral histories, language and traditions,” she said.
“According to national statistics for 2008, the work undertaken on Tidy Towns initiatives by about 90,000 volunteers was valued at $150 million, which is an amazing contribution,” she said
The theme for this year’s program is ‘Celebrating 40 Years of community spirit!’. WA Keep Australia Beautiful Chairman Mel Hay thanked Western Australian communities that promoted sustainable living and worked to protect the environment for future generations.
For more information contact Tidy Towns State Program Manager Gail Dodd on 6467 5132 or email tidytowns@dec.wa.gov.au.
Left to right: Pastor Dennis Jetta, Mayor of Bunbury David Smith, Donna Faragher, John Castrilli and Mel Hay.
Published as a DECmatters article on the 13th March 2009
