Golden Plains Shire home to Tidy Towns finalists

THIS year’s Keep Victoria Beautiful Tidy Towns Awards is putting Golden Plains on the map.

Community groups from across the Shire feature prominently on the list of finalists for awards aimed to celebrate grassroots initiatives and positive actions in rural Victoria.

Six regional organisations including Friends of Bannockburn Bush, Turtle Bend Events Committee and Meredith History Interest Group were named as finalists across five categories in the sustainable community’s awards.

In addition, the township of Bannockburn was also announced to be in the running for the overall 2020 Tidy Town honour.

Resident and co-ordinator for the Friends of Bannockburn Bush group Stuart McCallum was the successful applicant for the town’s nomination.

Mr McCallum said he was not only excited for the town to be a finalist, but also for the bush group to be nominated for two environmental prizes.

“We promote the reserve as an environmentally friendly recreation place through-out cleaning, re-planting and weed control work,” he said.

“It’s great to get people involved and get a sense of participation and pride in looking after the natural environment.

“It’s part of slowly and gently educating people into looking after native vegetation of all sorts.”

Mr McCallum wasn’t the only applicant to put Bannockburn forward and a number of residents also decided to nominate the town for a variety of reasons.

Another community member to nominate Bannockburn was Beth Kershaw. She said that although her nomination wasn’t selected, she was glad the town was a finalist.

“I like Bannockburn because it’s a lovely little rural town that is close to bigger cities but still has its country feel,” Ms Kershaw said.

“My nomination was to improve Bannockburn to make it more attractive by planting garden beds in the main street.”

Aside from the Bannockburn township itself, a range of events, programs and committee groups from all around the Shire were also recognised for awards.

Member of Turtle Bend Events Committee Claire Whitely said free community events like Teesdale Celebrates which she helped to organise are crucial in bringing the regional towns together.

“It’s empowering, gives us a chance to come together as a community and work together, which I think fits in with the Tidy Town requirements,” she said.

“It’s crucial and gives us a sense of wellbeing and connection and gives us a chance to connect.

“Because getting involved with your community is what is important in life.”

The winners of each award category will be announced on 5 September.