By Jane Flett, Awards Office, Queensland Regional Achievers Awards Graham Buchner of Warwick is one of ten finalists selected in the 2002 Queensland Regional Achievers Awards.
Graham has dedicated much of his free time over the past ten years organising and leading volunteers of the Warwick Cleanup Group who help keep the road reserves, rest areas, parks and gardens in and around Warwick free of litter and well maintained.
These people along with Graham spend their Sunday mornings picking up rubbish and slashing grass along the nine entrances to Warwick, which covers more than 60km of road reserve.
The provision of clean parks and rest areas has improved the local community spirit by helping to promote tourism and inspiring residents to enjoy their local area and take pride in their town. Graham’s work ensures good visibility for motorists so that tourism and directional signs are easy to see. Economically it has assisted the community by helping to attract and retain visitors including those who decide to either stop for lunch or stay overnight or longer.
The impact on the area has helped earn Warwick placings in the Keep Australia Beautiful Tidy Town competitions.
Working closely with the Warwick Shire Council and the local Main Roads office, Graham provides a service to these groups which would otherwise take up valuable resources. This equates to a saving for rate and tax payers and allows their dollars to be spent on other works.
Graham is concerned with the amount of rubbish that is dumped as landfill at waste collection centres. To help with this cause, he and his volunteers sort through the litter and recycle whatever they can at the local Endeavour Centre.
In an economic and social sense, Graham has assisted the unemployed by encouraging them to take part in his volunteer group. The volunteer work helps the unemployed by increasing their self confidence and self worth.
Also a local business operator, Graham runs his own busy transport business which maintains and supplies the group’s equipment. Graham provides morning tea each Sunday for the volunteers at his own expense and operates a mini van to transport them. |