Sustainability Stars

Tell us about your sustainability work and what inspired you?

My sustainability work is focused on Malcolm Creek and the surrounding grasslands in Craigieburn. Over the past 12 months, I have re-established the Friends of Malcolm Creek and Grasslands community conservation group as a sub-group of Friends of Merri Creek. We hold monthly clean-up events to remove litter from the banks and grasslands surrounding Malcolm Creek. 

Who has been an influence or role model for you?

I have not had one influence or role model but rather a network of wonderful people within community conservation groups and organisations in the inner and outer northern suburbs of Melbourne. I am particularly grateful to the support of Julia Cirrolo at Merri Creek Management Committee and Claire Weekly at Friends of Merri Creek who helped me with the re-establishment of Friends of Malcolm Creek and Grasslands and continue to provide on-going support, encouragement and positivity. 

What has been the biggest challenge in your sustainability work?

My greatest challenge and frustration is with the lack of pro-activity and action by local government and private companies in addressing environmental and sustainability concerns. I spend so much of my time following up on requests to have dumped rubbish removed or unacceptable amounts of litter collected from our streets and reserves. It is my dream that one day I won't have to spend so much time and energy asking them to resolve these issues and that instead, keeping our neighbourhoods and green spaces free from rubbish and litter is something that is done without having to be asked multiple times. 

How do you see the future of your sustainability work?

I hope to be able to grow Friends of Malcolm Creek and Grasslands into a large and active community environment group. I hope to continue to encourage our local council to be more proactive in addressing the dumped rubbish and litter problem in our community such that our group can spend less time collecting litter and be able to focus on other ways to improve the health of the creek and surrounding grasslands.

What advice do you have for others who want to get involved in sustainability?

My advice to others is to seek out like-minded individuals to help support you in your sustainability goals. It can be challenging trying to tackle environmental issues alone and finding even just one friend who also cares about the environment, can make a big difference. 

What do you enjoy about being part of the Hume community?

I love that Malcolm Creek and the surrounding grasslands are so close and accessible to our local community. It is very precious to live alongside such beautiful mature gum trees, communities of frogs, birdlife and kangaroos. My experience of this each day, is without a doubt, the inspiration for my sustainability work.

Tell us about your sustainability work and what inspired you?

I see sustainability as a choice weaved seamlessly into my lifestyle. I buy quality. I maintain my belongings. I recycle responsibly. I upcycle things in art form which I find therapeutic too. Outside home, I have joined volunteer programs such as Hume Enviro champions and Gardens for Wildlife which allow me to spread the word and contribute to ongoing sustainability practices.
The intrinsic inspiration comes from being lucky enough to always have been surrounded by people who resonated with similar choices when it came to environmental work. I also found many inspiring people along the way. All of this keeps me going.

Who has been an influence or role model for you?

Most of the influence comes from my upbringing combined with some energetic and talented people I am surrounded with. 

What has been the biggest challenge in your sustainability work?

If you look at the history of all cultures in the world, we were always doing things in a manner that sustained the lifecycle of things in relation to nature. Somewhere in the last century, we started overconsumption and wasteful practices that have ruined some of the balances that existed in nature. This when combined with the fads of sustainability made viral on social media makes it worse, and difficult for people to follow an informed choice. Another challenge is being singled out or isolated in the choices that we make which do not conform to the majority, but not sticking to our values is no fun either.

How do you see the future of your sustainability work?

I choose being sustainable in a pragmatic manner as a lifestyle. Because this is something that I embody, I will always continue to contribute to initiatives, programs and projects locally or far that try to be kind to the earth and follow sustainable practices.

What advice do you have for others who want to get involved in sustainability?

I recently learnt that the best way to get our message across is through actions and behaviour change. Telling people what to do has lesser effect than showing them through actionable steps. One of the ways I do so is by responsible shopping whether it is for the garden, home or family. Choosing products that meet standards of ethics, sourcing, raw materials etc. is one small but impactful change one can bring in their lifestyles. And if time permits, get involved in local groups that are aligned to nature care and education about sustainable lifestyles.

What do you enjoy about being part of the Hume community?

I love Hume. Hume is my home where I have built a good portion of my life and this place shaped me into a responsible adult. I love that Hume as a community is developing with its challenges and we are sure looking at a brighter future everyday.

Bilal is a member of the Roxburgh Park Community Gardens and attends the gardens every week to grow vegetables. Ali is Bilal’s Dad who is also a leader at the gardens and provides an annual workshop on fruit tree pruning. Ali asks Bilal about being a Sustainability Stars.

Tell us about your sustainability work and what inspired you?

I grow my own vegetables, plants and take care of our fruit trees. My inspiration comes from connecting to nature, outdoors and connected to my community.

Who has been an influence or role model for you?

The biggest influence and role model is my grandfather and my father. Growing up I would follow them to our backyard and help them with planting, pruning, cleaning up and maintaining our gardens. We had chickens in our backyard and for a long time, we never bought supermarket eggs.

What has been the biggest challenge in your sustainability work?

Climate change. Hot drought dry spells and unseasonal rains which makes it difficult to grow and maintain our gardens.

How do you see the future of your sustainability work?

It’s the way of the future. People need to know how and when to grow things in their own backyards or community gardens. We cannot be over reliant on governments or big corporations to sustain our homes or communities.

What advice do you have for others who want to get involved in sustainability?

Be patient, ask lots of questions and get involved with community projects and activities, especially if you close to community-based garden center. Do your research online and attend any local council (Hume) based sustainability workshops where you will meet likeminded members of where you live.

What do you enjoy about being part of the Hume community?

I enjoy being part of the Roxburgh Park Community Garden as it helps me connect with my community and where I’m not judged on my autism. I can grow different seasonal vegetables and plants. I can share my own produce with others and learn new gardening skills and techniques. I love watering and maintaining member’s plots when they cannot make it on days. I attend the gardens 2-3 times during weekdays with my NDIS supports staff member and with my father on weekends.

Tell us about your sustainability work and what inspired you?

I teach people about beekeeping by introducing bee care and management. I was inspired by my first class at CERES and saw how so many participants knew so little about bees.

Who has been an influence or role model for you?

Vino Farm on YouTube does posts that taught me seasonal expectations and helped me develop my knowledge and skills. I saw him getting his bees from dead-outs at the end of winter. Vino started alone and now has a mentor.

What has been the biggest challenge in your sustainability work?

Establishing a beehive at the Sunbury Community Garden and working with Hume Council was a marathon. We had to demonstrate the bee installation project's value, addressing risks, safety and community benefit. We submitted detailed plans and advocated for installation of one hive, as Councils usually remove bee hives from homes. We showed that we could manage the hive and keep people safe. It took 6 months and after management sign off; the hive was installed. We now have two hives that are producing honey and providing pollination to the garden.

How do you see the future of your sustainability work?

I'm optimistic! Beekeeping is a powerful tool for environmental awareness. People learn how to set up a hive and establish bee-friendly gardens. I'm also excited about innovative solutions – hive monitoring, advanced disease detection, and even robotic solutions for pollination. Beekeeping is driving both grassroots action and cutting-edge technology, working together to secure a healthier future for our buzzing friends and the planet.

What advice do you have for others who want to get involved in sustainability?

Beekeeping and sustainability go together. If you're just starting out with beekeeping, start with one hive; learn the basics and build a solid foundation of knowledge. Assess hive location, plant diverse flora, like native flowers, and avoid harsh chemicals; you're contributing to a healthier ecosystem. Reach out to beekeeping clubs or a mentor; the community is an incredible resource.

What do you enjoy about being part of the Hume community?

Swapping stories, sharing tips, and supporting the garden with pollinating services, running workshops, and mentoring future beekeepers makes it worthwhile. This builds a stronger, more vibrant community space together.