'Greening Dairy Farmers' - Green Corps Participants Sow Seeds of Success in Townsville

Wednesday 28 April was a big day for Break Thru People Solutions, a Job Services Australia provider in Townsville, when six job seekers graduated from their Green Corps activity, called 'Greening Dairy Farmers'.

The activity, located at Dairy Farmers Stadium, is the home of the North Queensland Cowboys rugby

league team. All participants in the activity were Indigenous Australians.

The activity began on 27 October 2009 with five participants. The number gradually grew until 16 jobseekers commenced. The activity's objectives were to install an irrigation system, sow grass, plant trees and build rockeries in an area adjoining the main gate of the stadium. All of this was achieved and the community will now appreciate a much improved stadium entrance area.

Senator Jan McLucas attended the graduation and spoke of the wonderful work the job seekers had done in improving the accessibility and appearance of the area leading into Dairy Farmers Stadium. She expressed her gratitude to Break Thru People Solutions for the work carried out and their commitment to Closing the Gap by encouraging Indigenous job seekers to take part in this environmental activity and supporting them in obtaining employment.

Senator McLucas spoke to the graduating job seekers, thanking them for a job well done and encouraging them to pursue their chosen goals. She stressed the importance of working together and making a difference to the environment and themselves.

Mr Todd Harris, venue manager for Dairy Farmers Stadium, also congratulated Break Thru People Solutions and all participants on an excellent result in an area which was previously weeds, snakes and rubble. Mr Harris also expressed the heartfelt gratitude ofthe stadium management on the great effort and results achieved by the Green Corps team.

Through their participation in Greening Dairy Farmers, two participants have been offered traineeships and casual positions as grounds staff with Dairy Farmers Stadium-an excellent employment outcome! Another participant is currently working as a casual labourer while completing his Certificate II in Horticulture. Nine ofthe other participants are currently undertaking training courses in areas including horticulture, hospitality, and the automotive industry.