‘Heart of community’ gets a make-over thanks to Yarra Valley Water community grant and volunteers
Nearly 40 hard-working volunteers joined forces to improve the communal area and establish a habitat for local wildlife, with the support of a $5,760 Yarra Valley Water Community Grant.
They transformed the community garden – a space for children to play and learn about their environment – by painting a play feature, revamping the outdoor area and planting more than 250 indigenous plants.
Mitcham Community House Manager Melinda McGinley said she wanted to make the play area more attractive and fun for the kids.
“Mitcham Community House is really at the heart of Mitcham. By rejuvenating the garden, we’re making it more appealing and more welcoming.”
“This will make such a difference to the community and for everyone who comes here,” Ms McGinley said.
Mitcham Community House is among 14 recipients of Yarra Valley Water’s Community Grants program, which funds projects aimed at water conservation, habitat improvement, and community education.
The community house also plans to add amenities such as bird feeders, possum boxes, and butterfly feeders to support local wildlife.
Yarra Valley Water’s Chief Financial Officer Natalie Foeng thanked all the volunteers for their hard work and Mitcham House for their successful grant submission.
“We’re proud to support local groups that are the backbone of our community and to facilitate projects that create meaningful impact. The work at Mitcham Community House is a wonderful example of community collaboration and habitat restoration, and we look forward to seeing the end results.”
Yarra Valley Water has a commitment to helping communities thrive. Part of this includes a day of volunteer leave for staff, so they can give back to the community.
Mitcham Community House Treasurer Bob Williams said he was overwhelmed to see so many willing workers come to help.
“The support from Yarra Valley Water is staggering and really exceeded our expectations,” he said.
Mitcham Community House offers a wide range of affordable classes including patch work, strength training and cooking. Approximately 300 people visit the centre each week.
“The centre brings together people of all ages, creating a true sense of community,” he said. “We’re lucky to have kids, parents and various groups, so we’ve got a real balance of young and old.”
“Socialising and connecting with others is such a big part of what we do here, and having a beautiful garden makes it feel more like a second home,” Mr Williams said.
Other successful 2024 Community Grants recipients include:
- Yarra Hills Secondary College, Yarra Ranges - for a new water pump, water tank and essential underground piping
- Eastwood Primary School & Deaf Facility, Ringwood – for a new watering system for its edible Kitchen Garden Program
- Friends of the Platypus, Nillumbik – towards education resources and safety equipment for habitat restoration
- Mont Albert Village, Whitehorse - for a portable water tank for re-planting native vegetation along the rail corridor
- Lalor North Primary School, Lalor - to install a water fountain, water tank and new irrigation system
- Lighthouse Foundation, Maroondah - for a water tank and garden beds
- Mernda Community Garden at Carome Smart, Whittlesea - for a new irrigation system
- Edible Warburton Community, Yarra Ranges - to purchase new rainwater tanks
- Newlands Primary School, Darebin - towards composting systems and garden supplies.
For more information about Yarra Valley Water’s Community Grant program, please visit yvw.com.au/community-grants.