By JESSE GRAHAM
HEALESVILLE farewelled its first Green Army group late last month, with members graduating after a six-month stint working around the town.
The Healesville Green Army group officially graduated on Thursday 23 April at Coronation Park and were farewelled by a group of politicians, family and dignitaries.
The Green Army had been working throughout Healesville and its surrounds with environmental and Landcare groups to improve and restore natural areas, through weed management and planting, among other means.
Environment Minister Greg Hunt, who developed the Green Army program, and Casey MP Tony Smith came down for the event, joining Yarra Ranges mayor Maria McCarthy in congratulating the group.
“To all of you: well done,” Mr Smith said.
“I can see that you’ve had a great time doing it – you’re proud of the work you’ve done and you’ll take that knowledge and hand it on to others in the future, so well done.”
About 10 of the Green Army participants received certificates on behalf of the Australian Government and Conservation Volunteers Victoria, with some making heartfelt speeches to their supervisor, Sybelle Foxcroft, and others presenting her with a bouquet of flowers.
Ms Foxcroft only had glowing words for her colleagues in response.
“They say all of these lovely things about me, but inside all of them live these incredible human beings who I know are going to big things in the future,” she said.
“These young people here, they are going to be our future, and we have to teach young people how to maintain our beautiful country.
“When people de-stress, where do they want to go? They want to go to the mountains, the park, the ocean – we’ve got to look after it.”
The Green Army’s work in Healesville came as a 2013 election pledge from Mr Smith, who promised the program would be deployed to his electorate in its first round.
With their first stint finishing up, Mr Smith said he hoped the government would fund further Green Army projects in the town once it had finished its rollout.
In the Yarra Ranges, other Green Army groups are beginning work in Mount Evelyn, Monbulk and along the Warburton Trail, managing weeds and assisting local Landcare and environment groups with projects.
Mr Smith said the Yarra Ranges Council had been a strong supporter of the project, and helped it to hit the ground running.
For more information on the Green Army, visit www.conservationvolunteers.com.au/green-army.
