Celebrating another year at Southbank Sustainability Group

Let me start this column by recognising and thanking all the volunteers who ensure the gardens at the Boyd Community Hub are thriving with plenty of herbs and vegetables.

It is local residents volunteering their time and expertise who care for the garden beds at each fortnightly meetup, drop by to water the plants three times a week and visit during the week to see how newly planted seedlings are progressing.

The Southbank community is continually changing as residents come and go. Southbank Sustainability Group is a local informal network, and we love to meet and provide a relaxed gardening environment where you can get to know other locals and explore ways of living more sustainably.

November saw more planting in the garden as the weather warmed up. We also had plenty of rain, which helped. There will be plenty of leafy greens and herbs over the next few weeks.

With the holiday season fast approaching you may be thinking about how to reduce your environmental footprint. This is an ideal time to consider how to reduce, reuse, repair or recycle as you participate in various events and celebrations.

If you are planning on Christmas decorations, select or make your own from natural and reusable materials. If you like wreaths you can make one using Australian native flowers, which are long lasting and have plenty of colours. See the photograph of one made by a member.

Natives are well adapted to the local environmental conditions and consequently require fewer fertilisers and pesticides for their cultivation relative to introduced species. Perfect choices for a holiday wreath are Billy buttons, Protea, Pincushions and Geraldton wax. They can be entwined on a wire frame in the shape you want. Just remember to recycle the wire frame.

If considering giving gifts, consider handmade presents and items that are practical and reusable. This will help reduce our environmental footprint. If you need to buy gifts – look for gifts made from recycled materials and locally sourced.

Visit the many local op shops as a source of goods to be repurposed. Look for alternatives to battery-operated toys. Such an approach is not only good for the environment but can be a lot less expensive.

Wrap your gifts in reusable or biodegradable materials. Make use of fabric scraps, scarves and tea towels and make your gift unique.

We can all also look for ways to extend a helping hand and offer support to those in need, especially at this time of year. You can donate unused items, volunteer your time, or support local charities. Instead of presents, donate on behalf of family and friends to local charities.

The Southbank Sustainability Group continues to meet up fortnightly for some gardening, food harvesting and conversation. These meet ups are open to all. Our dates for December and January will be Saturdays December 14 and 28, 2025 and Saturdays January 11 and 25, 2026 between 10 am and noon.

About the group

Southbank Sustainability Group is a solutions-focused community group of Southbank residents working to bring positive change in sustainability practices. Reach us at [email protected] or facebook.com/SouthbankSustainabilityGroup

If you are interested in getting involved with Southbank Sustainability Group, send us an email or come to one of the upcoming meet ups. •