To a lot of people receiving a surprise delivery of 55 bags of manure might cause a bit of a stink but the Camillo Action Group greeted it with open arms.
It has been cultivating a plot of land next to Westfield Park Primary School since 2014 with the aim of turning it into a community garden.
On June 3 the group got a whiff of support in the form of a platoon marching with the bags under the Cecil Andrews Armadale Police Rangers banner.
Camillo Action Group chairperson Sherrii Richardson said she was thrilled.
“We are extremely grateful for their assistance,” she said.
“Our aim is to achieve a fully accessible garden, to purchase a removable pathway to allow wheelchairs into the garden.”
The Rangers have visited the garden every couple months to help out and the manure was seen as an important ingredient to a project with big ambitions.
The Camillo Action Group hopes to eventually lay a concrete path to provide permanent access for wheelchair users, people on crutches and those who have trouble walking.
It also plans to develop raised garden beds to allow visitors with cognitive issues or other motor skill problems easy access to each plant.
The manure was purchased from the Lions Club and bagged by the Rangers before it was delivered and laid by the team.
Rangers unit leader Ben Boekholt said it was a great experience for children to learn how they can help out at home.
“Helping the community I think is the most important thing for younger kids to be involved in,” he said.
“Some of them never do gardening at home.
“It helps them realise they don’t need to help mum and dad for hours and hours but if they help for just half an hour it’ll be a big help.”
Mr Boekholt said the Lions Club lent a hand in supporting the Rangers by reducing the cost of the manure.
He said he tried to teach the Rangers the importance of doing a good job and taking responsibility for the community.
“It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, it’s not always about fun,” he said.
“I think they learnt a lot because they’ve seen what they can do at home now, if it’s only half an hour on a Saturday they can still help out.”
The garden is locked to the public except when the group is working in it and any anybody interested in getting involved or joining the Camillo Action Group could contact camilloactiongroup@gmail.com.
