Smiles welcome judge

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
KEEP Australia Beautiful judge Tony Wissenden has been ticking the boxes to find Victoria’s most sustainable communities.
The long-running annual Tidy Town competition, which was won by Woori Yallock in 1990, has been extended over the past few years to include recognition for actions that support and enhance the sustainability of a local community.
Mr Wissenden has been making his way across the state from Sale to Cardinia and even stopping off in Yarra Junction to enjoy a meal at the Koha Community Café.
The café was entered into the Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria awards under the Community Action and Community Leadership categories.
Mr Wissenden enjoyed the service and hospitality from volunteers on Thursday 14 July.
He was treated as the volunteers treat all their guests – with a smile on their faces, ready for a laugh or to point out a spare seat.
Mr Wissenden said the awards were more diverse these days than just toilet blocks and rubbish-free areas.
“There are a range of things we look at now, and they are educating as well as awarding,” he said.
“From an open garden scheme in Sale, roadside vegetation in Cardinia, to composting in the La Trobe Valley …water conservation has become a big one.”
The KABV judge said the projects also aimed to highlight innovation and unique ideas.
“All these things have drivers, people that take problems and do something to solve them,” he said.
Koha’s project co-ordinator Suyin Chan said the café, its volunteers and patrons played a part in making the Upper Yarra a better place to live.
“We did research in local community groups in the Yarra Valley and found there was a high level of food insecurity,” she said.
“The café has become an important place for members of our community.”
She said the volunteers had flourished over the past 12 months and many new friendships had been made among patrons, “it’s been wonderful on so many levels”.
Ms Chan put together a booklet highlighting some of the projects the café has taken on, including training volunteers with food handling courses, providing cooking and jam making classes, and even beginning to put together a cookbook of favourite meals served at Koha.
This year’s winners of the KABV Tidy Towns – Sustainable Communities Awards will be announced in Rutherglen on Saturday 22 October.
Members of the public are being encouraged to meet the volunteers and enjoy a meal from 6pm every Thursday at the Koha Community Cafe, 1-3 Park Road, Yarra Junction.