Team effort: Billabong Garden Complex’s propagation team working together to plant one of the 11 water gums at GSSC. Pictures: Megan Fisher
Photo by
Megan Fisher
The new Greater Shepparton Secondary College campus now has 11 young but already established trees in the central courtyard, thanks to the help of ConnectGV and other local social enterprises.
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The native water gum trees — sourced from Melbourne by Billabong Garden Complex, which is operated by ConnectGV — will grow to between 10m and 15m tall, to provide shade for students.
The building contractor for the school, Hansen Yuncken’s senior project manager Tom Cumming, said when they saw the opportunity to get local social enterprises involved in the project, they approached ConnectGV.
“We walked the client through a couple of months ago and said they were only getting small trees,” he said.
“So we said there’s a nice social enterprise in town if you’d like them to get involved.”
The trees were transported to Shepparton three weeks ago, where they were cared for and then planted by the propagation team.
Employees from ConnectGV also provided the catering for lunch at the site.
Providing employment: Billabong Garden Complex’s Tracy Lamont (left) with Hansen Yuncken senior project manager Tom Cumming and ConnectGV chief executive Carolynne Frost.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
ConnectGV and Billabong Garden Complex provide secure and fulfilling employment to people with disabilities.
ConnectGV chief executive Carolynne Frost said the support from Hansen Yuncken and Greater Shepparton Secondary College had helped those living with a disability find jobs.
“There’s been a real ripple effect in terms of employment for people with a disability,” she said.
“Sourcing these plants is enabling us to employ people in meaningful employment, not just any sort of employment.”
It’s not the first time Hansen Yuncken has supported community organisations and enterprises in Shepparton.
At the height of Shepparton’s coronavirus outbreak this year, the company donated $10,000 to FoodShare to support the community.
“The donation was something fairly easy for us to chip in and get involved in,” Mr Cumming said.
“We’ve been here (in Shepparton) nearly 100 years so it’s something we like to do with ConnectGV today and with FoodShare and other social enterprises.”
Supporting the community: Hansen Yuncken senior project manager Tom Cumming with Shepparton FoodShare operations coordinator Grace Grieve.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Shepparton FoodShare operations coordinator Grace Grieve said the donation from Hansen Yuncken helped the organisation support more families in isolation during the COVID-19 outbreak.
“The donation of $10,000 came at a time when a third of our community were in lockdown,” she said.
“FoodShare along with other organisations were able to step up, but we could not do it without the kind donation.”
Hansen Yuncken has operated a regional branch in Shepparton since 1925 and has completed several large-scale projects in the area.
The company began the construction of Greater Shepparton Secondary College’s new campus in February 2020, which is now in the final stages.
The school is scheduled to welcome students at the beginning of the 2022 school year.
