Stationeers need volunteers
Keep Victoria Beautiful was at Drouin Railway Station last week to launch new campaign materials in a bid to get more volunteers for its Stationeers program.
The program is a collaboration with Public Transport Victoria, V/Line, VicTrack and Metro Trains. It aims to improve the look and feel of railway stations across Victoria by encouraging and supporting enhancement work undertaken by volunteers.
Volunteers remove litter, and undertake gardening and maintenance.
The program has been operating since 2005 in Drouin and Keep Victoria Beautiful currently looking to start another group up in Warragul and add a few new members to the Drouin group.
The new group will have the opportunity to be mentored by the Drouin volunteers, of which there are 12.
"V/Line will supply plants and everything for them," Keep Victoria Beautiful volunteer manager Wendy Lake said.
"We will give them safety equipment, we take them through an induction and a safety manual... we cover them with volunteer insurance, we have public liability insurance and all those sorts of things."
Ms Lake said it is not just about gardening for the volunteers.
"It's about community connections as much as it is the gardening. You've got a lot of people coming together that have never met each other before, they have a cup of coffee afterward."
Additionally, Ms Lake said having well-maintained gardens and landscaping helps discourage littering around railway stations.
"It makes it nice for the residence and for the tourists coming into the area as well," she added.
Drouin volunteer Julia Hurst said group members signed up to contribute to the community and meet like-minded people.
She said she likes seeing the "beautiful gardens", which are for the enjoyment of others.
"The presentation is extremely satisfying for all volunteers," she said, commenting on the group's achievements.
To learn more about the program, or to contact the Wendy Lake, visit: https://www.kvb.org.au/stationeers/