RURAL AID’S OUR TOWNS MAKEOVER IS COMING TO ALPHA
Plans finalised and an army of Rural Aid volunteers are on their way to makeover Alpha.
The tiny community of Alpha (pop. 350) in Queensland is ready for their town’s makeover, as Rural Aid Community volunteers head west next week.
CEO of Rural Aid, John Warlters, said the Alpha makeover is sponsored by Energy Queensland, who are part of the volunteer army.
“Over the next five years, each of the ten Our Towns in our program receive $100,000 in projects and support to renew their town. This includes a community workshop on the town’s long-term future and sustainability, as well as the materials and trade expertise needed to do the makeover. These are sourced as locally as possible to support local businesses.”
“Rural Aid members and community volunteers will be in Alpha next week to undertake a large number of works,” Mr Warlters explained.
Settlers Park will have a new raised community garden and the sculpture of a bull will be elevated to be more visually prominent. At the east end of Shakespeare Street the park benches and planters will be painted, and a small shed will be erected to house life size chess pieces.
The golf club will have the exteriors refreshed and a new swing set will be installed. At two church grounds, some overdue pruning will happen. The pottery shed at the showgrounds will get new wall cladding, a new door and a lick of paint. And the museum will have all of its items catalogued.
“These long-term renewal projects have been made possible thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and volunteers in giving their time and expertise for such a great cause; as well as the remarkable Alpha community. Alpha’s community has worked hard, coming up with ideas and forming those ideas into a plan for their vision of their future.”
“We can’t wait to see the results of the makeover,” Mr Warlters said.
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About Alpha, the gateway to the west
- Alpha was named after an early property in the area which was taken up in 1863 and then became established as a service town for railway construction workers.
- The region is famous for its petrified wood.
- It’s known as the ‘Town of Murals’ with 27 murals that have been painted by local resident artists and beautifully pay tribute to the pioneers of the bush and the history of the district.
- Alpha’s history is on display at the Jane Neville Rolfe Art Gallery, the Tivoli Theatre Museum, the New Bridge, Beta Hut and Settlers Park.
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Media enquiries: Lyndsey Douglas 0424203935 media@admin.media.ruralaid.org.au
Media spokespersons: Rural Aid CEO John Warlters – 0409 618 641