Dowerin Work Camp prisoners have helped transform a Wheatbelt town’s unused space into a vibrant nature playground, expanding and revitalising a public park for the community.
Dozens of locals attended the official opening of Anstey Park in Goomalling this week, previously the site for the disused Country Women’s Association (CWA) building.
Children were quick to put the playground features to the test in the newly activated space, which was shortlisted for this year’s Minister for Local Government's Place Innovation Awards.
While it ultimately missed out to Carnarvon for the top Award, Goomalling Shire President Julie Chester said the latest addition to the town is nothing but a winner - and not just for locals.
“There’s always someone there, and it may not be Goomalling people, it’s out of towners,” she said. “They’ve got some really good people at Dowerin who came and used their skills.”
Through the Section 95 (S95) work program, closely supervised minimum security prisoners helped with the demolition of the CWA building, landscaping, paving and work on the playground structures.
“It’s the kind of project the boys like to get stuck into because it gives them a sense of achievement and teaches them new skills and that’s what it’s all about,” Work Camp Relief Officer, Gary, said.
The park the latest project in a 10-year collaboration between the Shire and the Department of Justice, with S95 crews from Dowerin Work Camp, which is managed by Wooroloo Prison Farm, helping make a range of public works possible.
Julie Chester said the ties that the partnership has created go beyond the work projects, with some S95 workers choosing to settle in Goomalling after their release.
“They lived in the community, became part of the community so we were grateful for that,” she said. “Everybody wins.”
It was in that spirit that the prisoners who worked on the Anstey Park rejuvenation were invited to the official opening to see the community enjoying the finished product.
“This is what it’s for, that’s why it’s worth putting the work into it because you know it’s going to make the community a bit better,” said one of the men at the event. “It’s a good feeling."
Julie said the feeling from the Goomalling community is mutual.
“People will stop to chat about them doing our footpaths, or work on the town hall, or whatever they may be,” she said. “They do a wonderful job, we’re so lucky to have them.”
