Building the Park

Harry Blore was a good friend. To everyone. A humble man who lived a humble life in Milparinka, Harry had many friends. Some were people who make our country's decisions, some were the children of our community. Some were travellers passing by. It didn't matter. Once you met Harry you didn't forget him.

That's why our community doesn't want to forget him either. Many years ago Harry planted a few trees across the road from where he lived in the old Police Barracks. We have literally taken a leaf from Harry's book and planted some more. One day soon the area will bear the name " Harry Blore Memorial Park." We can hear Harry now. Chuckling away. Bemused by all these goings on in his name.

Above left: 2000, above right 2004.

This is what Louise Turner, Co-ordinator of the region's Bushcare Program had to say about our project. For details on the volunteers and the program follow the links.

A Bushcare project in the heart of Milparinka has been selected as a priority area to receive practical care from the Conservation Volunteers Australia Better Earth program. Bushcare in the Rangelands empowers community groups and landholders alike to incorporate conservation principles into their semi-arid land management practices. The Milparinka project has environmental significance because it aims to develop an area of indigenous plantings within the township to enhance natural regeneration processes; help with dust suppression; and aid in increasing biodiversity in the fairly degraded site area and surrounds. The Milparinka Indigenous Plant Reservation project, locally referred to as the Harry Blore Memorial Park, also incorporates an innovative irrigation system whereby ground water is desalinated through a catalytic converter and then passed through T-Tape buried under the ground.

The environmental benefits of this project not only aim towards building on biodiversity values for the town but will show “Best Practice” methods of irrigating in a semi-arid arid region.

The Milparinka Indigenous Plant Reservation is a project of the Milparinka Tourism & Heritage Association committee, coordinated by John Ainsworth. The Committee, aided by the Far West Bushcare Project Manager Louise Turner, were able to utilise the resources of a Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) team consisting of young people from many parts of the world through a Lending a Hand grant from the Commonwealth bank.

CVA is Australia’s largest practical conservation organisation, completing more than 1500 conservation projects across Australia every year. Conservation Volunteers’ community participation resulted in more than 2 million trees planted in 2001 and more than 8 million trees planted over the past decade. Last year community involvement totalled 240,000 project days contributing more than $28.8 million of practical assistance to the preservation of the Australian environment.

Wil Shapira of Epping in England is one of four Conservation Volunteers who have been part of the group for 20 weeks. In September 2002, Will heads off to Leeds University to study Environmental Management for 3 years. He says “there are a couple of reasons why I decided to join the volunteer team. One was to travel around Australia and see a bit of the place and the other was to get some hands on experience in my chosen field – to do something constructive in my year off”.

“CVA is a great way to meet new people and see the spectacular countryside. Working and living in such close proximity with 10 other people is great for developing Team Building skills and learning heaps about my chosen field for my future career”.

Rebecca McMillan, Proprietor of the Milparinka Hotel says “ the Milparinka Reservation project is a good thing for the town as it will make the area look tidier and encourage visitors to the area to extend the length of time they stay”.

Overall this project fits in well with the Bushcare priorities of community involvement, education & awareness and will result in a Western Catchment Blueprint outcome of an informed and committed community working to address priority natural resource management issues.