By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
ROTARY Club of Noble Park president Con Christoforou will be among those to apply finishing touches to Noble Park’s community garden this Saturday.
His club has built planter boxes out of donated apple crates, and created other garden structures. It will also maintain the communal food garden, which officially opens on September 30.
“Helping doesn’t cost us anything. It makes us guys feel great,” Mr Christoforou said. “My idea of Rotary is not just raising money. It’s not about rich businessmen who get together for a drink and have a sausage sizzle — it’s about being hands-on.”
The garden’s designer Emily Ballantyne-Brodie said the club “saved the day”. “They were the ones who came and built the garden’s foundations. They were so willing and giving,” she said.
Other contributors included Derek Sloetjes of Design Landscape Scenery who donated soil and helped Noble Park Primary School pupils build the garden’s boxes and structures.
Bunnings Sandown donated and installed an irrigation system, plants and spare seeds; the Dandenong Market donated the apple crates; and the City of Greater Dandenong a stunning redwood slab used for a table.
The result was a “quirky beautiful” garden decorated with a mosaic, ornaments and growing fruits of the season, Ms Ballantyne-Brodie said.
The final working bee for building the garden is 10am-3pm on Saturday. To get involved, call Nina Springle on 0407 354 787. To join Noble Park Rotary, call Con Christoforou on 0417 058 358. The club meets at Sandown Regency Motor Inn at 6pm on Thursdays.
For all the latest breaking news, visit greaterdandenongweekly.com.au. Also, follow the Weekly at facebook.com/greaterdandenongweekly or on Twitter @DandenongWeekly.
