General News
30 July, 2024
Youngsters hit the ground with cemetery seedlings
Horsham Cemetery is undergoing a landscaping facelift, thanks to Horsham's youth.
It was a pledge from Horsham Youth Council to plant a tree for every vote cast in last year's election that resulted in the cemetery planting, at the northern point bordered by Davis Drive and Kalkee Road.
The young people planted more than twice the number of votes cast.
The council, elected in June last year, received 617 votes from young people who live in the municipality.
Council members worked with Horsham Rural City Council landcare facilitator Annie Hobby to find a suitable space for the planting, finally settling on Horsham Cemetery.
The group also worked with Horsham Cemetery Trust and Dalki Garringa Native Nursery at Wail on the selection of plants.
Cemetery Trust chairperson Chas McDonald praised the work of the young people on Saturday.
"It was a shocking day," he said. "They couldn't have had a worse day to be outside planting trees."
Foundation for Young Australian (FYA), which runs the Youth Council, covered the cost of seedlings and materials. Horsham representative Noah Talbot said the youth council was excited to have the opportunity to make an impact on the site which carried so much sentiment for so many.
“An impact that will be felt even more as the trees mature,” Mr Talbot said.
The FYA, in partnership with councils, backs young people to make change through active participation in local government.
Horsham Youth Council members are Liam Carracher, William Schache, Ryder Reid, Logan Henskes, Tom Luke, Shivanash Bhutani and Charlie Murray.