Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Housing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Wattle has a great place in Australia’s history and now, 16 years after this day was proclaimed Wattle Day, I would like to take the opportunity to draw the attention of the House to the Riddiford Arboretum in Broken Hill, in my electorate of Farrer. Established in 1988 on land that was a repair and oil transfer depot for the Silverton Tramway, the arboretum is now one of Broken Hill’s environmental treasures. It is named after Walter Riddiford, a mayor of Broken Hill, and is a tribute to Albert Morris, a self-taught botanist who was responsible for establishing regeneration reserves around Broken Hill.

The arboretum received a grant of $23,000 in round 1 of the coalition’s Community Water Grants program, which has enabled the arboretum to build a demonstration site that addresses water efficiency in the garden by the extensive use of mulch, native ground cover and plants to minimise water loss and consumption. An open day will be held in the arboretum in the coming months to welcome the public to the newly revitalised facility. The day will celebrate Wattle Day in conjunction with the start of spring.

I would also like to draw special attention to the badge that I am wearing today. It was given to me by members of the arboretum, all local volunteers. It was designed by Simon Bennett, a local student studying information technology at TAFE. It is one of three badges that have been designed for the day, which will raise funds for the Red Cross. Congratulations must also go to Darren O’Connor and Harrison Smith for designing the other two eye-catching badges, which incorporate the Red Cross symbol and the magnificent bright yellow and green of the wattle.