The official opening of the Wirra Creek Community Garden was held on Sunday, May 7 and was the culmination of hours of hard work and planning.
Attended by over 150 guests of all ages, members of the local and wider community came to Willunga to learn about the garden.
Naomi and Maureen from Spirit in Unity conducted a moving welcome to country ceremony, before City of Onkaparinga Mayor Moira Were officially opened the garden.
Paddy O’Toole (Chair of the National Trust Willunga Branch), Sue Greenwood (Chair of the Wirra Creek Community Garden sub-committee) and Karen Kentish (President of the SACWA Willunga Evening Branch) joined Mayor Were in planting a Seville Orange Tree for the opening.
Event organiser Linda Gissing said the tree will represent the official opening of the garden as well as being a dedication to the magnificent contribution the CWA has made to the community over 75 years.
“It seemed fitting that this Seville Orange be dedicated to the CWA Willunga Evening Branch.
The fruit from the Seville Orange Tree will be harvested by the CWA branch each year for the purposes of selling oranges to the local community for the making of marmalade,” Gissing said.
“This connection between local community is essentially what the Wirra Creek Community Garden is all about,” she said.
After the tree planting, visitors were treated to food, including delicious soups, a display from the SA Historical Tools Association and music from the Willunga Ukeleles.
The Wirra Creek Community Garden thanks the National Trust Willunga Branch, Willunga Environment Centre, YACCA (Youth and Community in Conservation Action) and the SACWA Willunga Evening Branch, as well as the intrepid soup and barbeque wranglers, who volunteered their time to help make the event such a success.
