Community
4 December, 2024
Mount Isa's green gardens recognised with awards
The city-wide improvement program has been operating for more than a decade.
The De Guzman family are among the growing numbers of Mount Isa residents taking advantage of the annual Lead Alliance Spring Backyard Improvement Program to get active on the weekends and transform their bare lawns into flourishing gardens.
The city-wide improvement program has been operating for more than a decade and saw double the number of entries this year, which aims to encourage locals make safe improvements to residential homes, schools and childcare centres as well as grow healthy produce.
The prizes on offer for the competition ranged from barbecues and garden tools to local gift vouchers worth hundreds of dollars.
Four judges are selected to assess the before and after photos of all entrants to study the improvements made during the competition period.
Maria De Guzman, whose burgeoning garden took out the Budding Bloomers and the Judge’s Choice awards, which won the family $800 in local gift vouchers, said she became interested in the competition after years of false starts to overhaul her front yard.
She said family friend Marcel gave a wedding gift promise last year to clear the front yard of their house of weeds.
Following several weekends of hard work, Marcel proudly presented the De Guzman couple with a cleared area, which prompted the family to commit to improving the yard.
“We used Saturdays as our family time to go outside and work on the yard – the kids would play and my husband and I would work on the garden,” she said.
“Having the time limit for the competition really helped us to stay motivated – it has been great to have that space now – it encourages the kids to go outside and get some sun and be active.”
Lead Alliance project officer Cathy Bimrose said the competition aligns with the broader goals of the Lead Alliance to promote home owners to cover their bare soil and eat healthy food.
“I think the standard of improvements from all the entrants was really impressive and everyone who participated should be really proud of their efforts,” she said.
Lead Alliance Backyard Improvement winners
Luscious Landscapers
The Trott Family.
Nature Strip Nurturers
Khovy Inthavong.
Healthy Heroes
The Fischer Family.
Budding Bloomers
The De Guzman Family.
Garden Gurus
Mandy Jane Hicks.
Lead Smart Learners
1st: Injilinji Community Kindergarten.
2nd: St Lutheran Church Childcare Centre.
3rd: St Joseph’s Outside School Hours Care and Kindergarten.
Judge’s Choice
The De Guzman Family.
Project Officer’s Choice
The Spreadborough Family.