Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden
The ongoing creation of a major tourism attraction, the Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden, has provided participants in numerous Business & Employment Work for the Dole groups with significant skills development along with a great measure of personal pride.
Since early 2001 Business & Employment has been coordinating groups of Work for the Dole participants, who gain many employable skills along the way, to assist the volunteers and members of the Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden. Local jobseekers have assisted in the construction of significant earth erosion/retention systems (gabion walls), rhododendron plantings, native bush clearances and the construction of garden attractions (Pagoda, Rotunda) to establish the Garden as a major attraction in the Northwestern region of Tasmania.
Assistance from the Tasmanian Community Fund has also enabled the Garden to establish a unique Visitor and Function Centre within the Garden. The Garden featured as a natural amphitheatre for the performance of David Helfcott (of the movie Shine fame) during an evening concert in the Garden as part of the Federation celebrations.
As the work progresses and the site, already full of many attractions to the rhododendron enthusiast, develops to its full potential the Business & Employment Work for the Dole participants are sure to remain an integral part of this excellent attraction. Shown below is a pictorial history of some of the achievements within the Garden during the Business & Employment Work for the Dole Team’s involvement.
