Blacktown City Council - Media Release - Blacktown’s 2017 Best Gardens Announced

MEDIA RELEASE  20 October, 2017 Riverstone’s Caroline Meyer has created a garden so stunning it was awarded not one but four prizes in the 2017 Blacktown City Garden Competition. Ms Meyer’s garden was judged the overall champion garden and was also named the best Ward 1 garden, best front garden and best back garden. The winners of the Blacktown City Garden Competition were announced at a celebratory dinner at Bowman Hall on Friday night. This year, the competition attracted 72 entries, including 55 individual entries and 17 entries in the community, school and commercial categories. “I am pleased to say 19 of the properties were new entrants, which is a tremendous effort,” said the Mayor of Blacktown City, Councillor Stephen Bali. “The outstanding quality of the gardens is a clear testament to the hard work and the great amount of personal pride Blacktown gardeners demonstrate in their properties and in their community.” Mayor Bali said the edible garden and sustainable garden categories were popular among entrants this year. “This reflects a change in the way people are creating and maintaining their gardens across our City,” he said. “From cultivating different types of edible plants to incorporating recycled materials and saving water, we are seeing a continued shift in long held attitudes and behaviour. “At Council, we are very proud of this and we encourage all residents to continue their work in building a sustainable future.” Another pleasing trend is the increasing number of schools entering the garden competition, Mayor Bali said. “There are some fantastic school gardens in our community and I congratulate those schools for giving local young people the opportunity to learn about, and experience the joy of, gardening,” he said. Competition Category Winners Category Place Name Champion Garden 1st Place Caroline Meyer (RIVERSTONE) 2nd Place Blake Ormsby (RIVERSTONE) 3rd Place Peter Wilson (BLACKTOWN) Best Front Garden 1st Place Caroline Meyer (RIVERSTONE) 2nd Place Blake Ormsby (RIVERSTONE) 3rd Place Eduardo & Ros Loyzaga (DHARRUK) Best Back Garden 1st Place Caroline Meyer (RIVERSTONE) 2nd Place Peter Wilson (BLACKTOWN) 3rd Place Fortunato and Rita Vella (PROSPECT) Best Individual Residential (unit or townhouse) 1st Place John Sudario (WOODCROFT) 2nd Place Sandra Pereira (TREGEAR) 3rd Place Victoria Balnave (QUAKERS HILL) Best Community Garden 1st Place Bidwill Community Garden 2nd Place Lalor Park Community Garden 3rd Place Blacktown Showground Community Garden Best Education Facility- High School 1st Place Chifley College, Bidwill Campus Best Education Facility- Primary School 1st Place St John Vianneys Parish School (DOONSIDE) 2nd Place Whalan Public School (WHALAN) Best Australian Native Garden 1st Place Blake Ormsby (RIVERSTONE) 2nd Place Warren Moore (STANHOPE GARDENS) 3rd Place Steve and Jenny Malizija (BLACKTOWN) Best Garden by a Senior Citizen 1st Place Peter Wilson (BLACKTOWN) 2nd Place Margaret Pratt (BLACKTOWN) 3rd Place Hannelore and Joe Nawiesniak (ROOTY HILL) Ward 1 Winner Caroline Meyer (RIVERSTONE) Ward 2 Winner Angelina Castellano (KINGS LANGLEY) Ward 3 Winner Peter Wilson (BLACKTOWN) Ward 4 Winner Hannelore and Joe Nawiesniak (ROOTY HILL) Ward 5 Winner Eddie and Ros Loyzaga (DHARRUK) Best Edible Garden-  Residential 1st Place Gamini and Sumedha Dharmaratne (KINGS LANGLEY) Best Edible Garden-  School 1st Place Chifley College, Bidwill Campus Best Edible Garden-  Other 1st Place Bidwill Community Garden Encouragement Award Winner Dominique Roux-Salembien (ACACIA GARDENS) Winner Rouse Hill Anglican College Best Commercial Garden 1st Place Our Lady of Consolation (ROOTY HILL) Best Sustainable Garden 1st Place Chifley College, Bidwill Campus 2nd Place Gamini and Sumedha Dharmaratne (KINGS LANGLEY) 3rd Place Warren Moore (STANHOPE GARDENS) Best Garden by a person/ group with a disability 1st Place Margaret Pratt (BLACKTOWN) 2nd Place Blacktown Showground Community Garden 3rd Place Coreen SSP Senior Campus (BLACKTOWN) Best Themed or Novel Garden 1st Place Alan Humphreys (QUAKERS HILL) 2nd Place Lando Masa (QUAKERS HILL)