City prepares for judging
Horsham will go under the Keep Australia Beautiful microscope within the next two months when a national judge assesses the Wimmera centre for an award.
Horsham is Victoria’s representative for Australia’s Sustainable Community and Tidy Town award and officials have received word the judge will visit in March or April.
Horsham Tidy Towns Committee chairman David Eltringham said Keep Australia Beautiful would advise the committee two weeks before judging, and has asked for community help.
“We need to present the city at its best to give us the winning edge for the national award against some very committed cities and towns from each Australian state,” he said.
“Many will recall that Horsham held the title of ‘Australia’s Tidy Town 2001’ when the late and much respected former mayor Don Johns was our Horsham Tidy Towns chairman.
“Following being awarded Victoria’s Tidy Town 2021, and being the reigning Victorian city, Horsham now has the responsibility to again represent the state in the national awards.”
Mr Eltringham said officials would announce a national winner at a July gathering in Hastings.
He said the committee had also asked Horsham Rural City Council to help in the presentation of the city by giving priority to works including: • Line-marking throughout Horsham’s central business district to present a clean city image that helps with traffic safety and parking. • Sweeping of the CBD footpaths – ideally weekly and along shop frontages and in the vicinity of alfresco dining facilities. • Repainting or reoiling of street seats and cleaning of street furniture and bus shelters. This follows a previous request that two ‘mismatched’ seats in front of a new Horsham Court House be replaced with a matching set. • Giving attention to replacement and repair of traffic and street signs throughout the CBD. • Displaying of Tidy Towns-litter-recycling banners on Firebrace Street and Darlot Street banner poles. • Maintaining the work council staff was doing to town entrances and roundabout floral displays. • Providing suitable publicity in council weekly news and update press pages for community support to prepare Horsham for the National Tidy Towns judging.
Mr Eltringham said recent changes regarding involvement of councillors and council in community committees had resulted in council administrative help being no longer available to the Tidy Towns Committee.
In response he encouraged all in the community to ‘do their bit’ to tidy up to support the committee’s entry submission.
“Many community projects and activities, including successful entries from our 2021 Victorian award, will be part of the committee’s national entry,” he said.
“Committee members will contact many organisations and individuals during the coming weeks to request assistance in providing as much detail as possible for the judge to appreciate how great it is to live in our sustainable, tidy and community-focused city.
“Horsham has been a consistent achiever in the awards programs for
more than 40 years and our record is on display in the window of Member for Lowan Emma Kealy’s Horsham office.
“We consider the Tidy Towns committee, together with our community in support, can again be a winner.
“We have a wonderful, sustainable lifestyle to outline to the judge.”
Mr Eltringham said people could find out more by calling him on 0418 147 482 or committee member Neil King on 0414 742 466.