By KATH GANNAWAY
HEALESVILLE Environment Watch Inc (HEWI) marked a growing milestone on 20 June, celebrating 25 years of revegetation work on Healesville waterways.
The planting days along the Grace Burn, Watts River and Wirrup Yaluk have involved hundreds of volunteers working in conjunction with organisations including Yarra Ranges Council, Melbourne Water and TAFE, Healesville High School, St Brigid’s and Healesville Primary students.
Healesville Primary School students, employees of Kilsyth company Cummins Filtration – now regular contributors, members of Yarra Ranges Council’s Bushland Team, Melbourne Water, the Mt Toolebewong and District Landcare Group and, of course, the dedicated HEWI members who have led the project, were joined by Yarra Ranges Mayor Fiona McAllister who presented certificates recognising their contribution.
“We certainly appreciate you being part of this project and hope you come back to Healesville frequently to watch your plants grow,” Cr McAllister said to the Cummins crew.
Dean Patch from Cummins said the company encouraged employees to take part in community projects.
“It’s good to put back into the community and it’s a bit of team-building as well,” he said.
Thanking the current batch of Healesville Primary School students, Cr McAllister said the school had been involved for longer than any of them had been alive. The school has been involved since 2001.
Since 2000 the Healesville Primary students have planted $13,800 seedlings.
There were also special mentions for Yarra Ranges Council’s Lou Sbalchiero who has been on board since the beginning, Steve McGill from Melbourne Water, and HEWI’s Maureen Bond.
Ms Bond said there would be a sign placed on the Grace Burn this year to acknowledge the ongoing commitment to ensuring the protection of platypus and native fish habitat in Healesville.
