Community Gardens launch - Mayor's welcoming speech
Thursday 19 November 2009
Fellow Councillors, Honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen;
Before we begin this morning, I would like to formally acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which we meet today - the Bidiagal People of the Darawhal nation - and pay our respects to their elders, past and present.
I'm exceptionally proud to welcome you to the official opening of the Carss Park Community Garden.
As many of you will be aware, it has taken a little while to get to this point and there were several hurdles for us to overcome along the way.
But that we are here today in amongst the tomatoes, basil and corn cucumbers, onions and bok choy spinach, beans, beetroot and carrots - it rather sounds like we're standing in the middle of a summer salad.
But thoughts of good food aside that we're standing here today, shows what a team of talented individuals with a common vision they're each committed tocan achieve.
Such team work doesn't happen by accident. It requires commitment and effort, along with a willingness to accept differences of opinion and a level of appreciation of all points of view.
And as with many projects that serve a wide audience, there were many points of view to be considered.
Teams are often made up of people who may be unequal in experience, talent and education.
But when a team is comprised of members who are equal in their drive to succeed in meeting the needs of those whom they serve great outcomes are assured.
Where we stand today is one of those great outcomes.
You may have heard me speak before about the definition of team. Together Everyone Achieves More. With this garden, we've achieved just that.
Our shared vision for these gardens is one of a connected, friendly and relaxing space.
A space frequented by pottering gardeners enjoying the better lifestyle that the City of Kogarah so richly affords its residents.
A space that upholds Kogarah's rock solid commitment to reducing our footprint through sustainability measures. And I'm sure either Fiona or Tony will explain more about our innovative straw bale structure and the other ways our garden models sustainability in a minute.
We also hope that this will be a space where people come together to make their contribution to our community, to give something back.
At the end of the day, the best thing that we can offer our fellow human beings is to leave things better than we found them.
We in the City of Kogarah, have been left a pretty good place to start. Though nothing's ever perfect, it's often the small tweaks that make the most profound differences in people's lives.
I believe that our community garden is one of those tweaks that will make a profound difference in a great many people's lives for decades to come.
Together we have all played our part in tweaking our wonderful City to leave it a little better than we found it.
To the many people who played a role in the garden's development (and you know who you are and the magnificent efforts you've put in) on behalf of the Kogarah community, I thank you.
I now declare the Carss Park Community Gardens officially open.
Read more about Council's Community Garden
