Volunteer Des Rinehart with some of the matt rushes planted on the 25th anniversary of the Mason Gully project in Rosewood. Des was angry when he found the plants had been vandalised only a week later. Photo: LYLE RADFORD
Volunteers plant lomandra along Mason’s Gully during the Community Planting Day on May 10. It was some of these plants that were ripped out and tossed around by vandals.
VOLUNTEERS who took part in the Community Planting Day at Mason’s Gully were angered when vandals ripped out some of the new plantings.
Chris and Des Rinehart joined other volunteers for a day of planting on May 10.
A week later, Des went to water the plants and found a number of them had been pulled out and tossed into the trees.
“We planted about 600 plants that were mostly lomandras, they’re mat rush grasses,” Chris said.
“They were planted on the edge of the waterway to stop erosion and maintain the bank of the waterway.
“Between 60 to 80 lomandras were pulled out and thrown around.”
The planting day was on the 25th anniversary of starting the project.
It was a special event and the vandalism wasn’t a victimless crime.
“Des was really angry when he saw what had happened because he put a lot of work into the project,” Chris said.
“Matting was laid down to stop weeds growing and holes were dug.
“But we’re not laying blame on anyone because we didn’t see anyone do [the vandalism].
“We just want to make people aware the work done here is by volunteers who put a lot of effort looking after it for the enjoyment of the community.”
