After years in planning the Camillo Community Garden will open to the public on February 27 as a symbol of pride in the often overlooked suburb.
The garden was the first major project of the Camillo Action Group, which was formed in 2014 to improve the area and engage the wider community.
Since then they have turned an old grass patch out the back of Westfield Park Primary School into a thriving public space with plenty of room to grow.
Action group chairperson Sherrii Richardson said they were grateful to be at the point where they could open the garden up to the community after a challenging but rewarding effort.
“The purpose of the garden is to drive a bit of pride in our community so we get less vandalism because people have something be involved in,” she said.
Ms Richardson said the garden was one of many projects the action group was working on.
“This is the first project we’ve been able to get off the ground and there is a few more,” she said.
“We want to get a community bingo going so we can not only fund the garden and garden projects but we can fund safety nets for people in the area and involvement programs for the elderly and even young people so they can continue striving in our community.”
Garden coordinator Krystal Pinnell said the land had been vacant for years before they moved in and they hoped to grow it.
“At the moment it’s only what we’ve planted but in the future community members will be able to rent out their own plots and plant their own vegetables as well as have the community wide plots,” she said.
On opening day there will be a free barbecue, children’s entertainment, gardening displays, a community soccer or cricket game and some plants for sale.
For more information call Ms Richardson on 0430 147 020 or email camilloactiongroup@gmail.com.
