In 2009 the Keep Australia Beautiful Council’s Tidy Towns - Sustainable Communities Awards celebrates its 40th anniversary.
The idea for the first Australian Tidy Towns competition was touted by the Western Australian Tourist Development Authority (WATDA) in 1968 to promote tidy and presentable towns the Tidy Towns Award program received instant success with 59 entries in its first year.
Tidy Towns’ in WA emanated from an Irish project, ‘Tidy Towns & National Roadside Gardens Competition’ after R.H. Hiller, the Director of the WATDA was contacted by an agent from the Irish Tourist Board, based in Sydney. The agent stated they ’had problems much the same as your own in bringing about the development of transport, accommodation, amenities, and of tourist attractions, on the scale required by the traveller of today‘ and offered to share information on their own initiative and its well received success.
The Tidy Towns competition was launched in 1968 by the WATDA with the judging taking place from November 1968 through to February 1969. Four judging categories were set according to town size and prize money ranging from $400; $600; $1000; and $1500 (smallest to highest population size). The winning towns were announced in March of that year.
Unlike today, the inaugural competition did not stretch State-wide; metropolitan (not just regional) entries were accepted; and local government agencies (rather than communities) were the competitors.
Points were awarded after taking the following into consideration:
effort involved and general cleanliness of Town.
absence of litter and unsightly objects.
appearance of Commercial and Residential premises.
colour, colour harmony of all buildings.
standard of fences and paved areas.
appearance of lawns, gardens, trees, shrubs, etc.
tidiness of private yards and blocks.
Some towns took the competition very seriously. One Shire, for example, circulated public notices to its townsfolk to elicit their support with ‘Depositing and Removal of Refuse, Rubbish, Litter and Disused Material’. A later notice was sent which stated that: ‘Some townspeople have made an effort to comply with Council’s suggestions while others have made no attempt whatsoever.’ An inspection of the town was undertaken, followed by enforcement of the Shire’s by-laws.
Backed by the Premier, Sir David Brand’s press statements, the first year of the Tidy Towns’ program was a great success. Fifty-nine towns entered, and due to the high level ofinterest shown, two judging committees were formed comprising representatives from Main Roads, the County Shires’ Association, Perth City Council, the Local Government Association and the Nurserymen’s Association of WA.
Competition winners were announced by the Honourable David Brand, MLA at a buffet luncheon at the Palace Hotel, on 17 March 1969. In order of smallest to largest town population, the winners were: Corrigin, Merredin, Medina/Calista, and Bunbury. Bunbury was also named the overall State Winner.
Invitation for Buffet Luncheon, 1969 - (click for larger view)
Over the past 40 years, there have been some changes to the competition including a broader environmental focus. Traditionally, the program focused on tidy streets, litter prevention and beautification. Now communities investigate and conserve assets such as their cultural heritage, bushland and rivers and limit their impact on the environment through recycling and resource recovery. The awards promote pride in communities, the protection of cultural and natural heritage values, and a sustainable future.
The prestige of winning an award is palpable. Benefits include increased tourism and marketing opportunities, increased youth participation, and community cohesion.
For the Tidy Towns staff, 2009 is a time of reflection and part of that process involves researching the program’s history. From the records investigated to date, it appears that in the past 18 or so years there have been several standout towns winning the state prize - noticeably Denmark who had a three year run finishing off as the National Tidy Towns Winner in 1998. Wyalkatchem and Collie have won the State title twice in the past ten years, each also securing the National Tidy Towns Award. Paraburdoo and Bruce Rock have also twice placed first in the State awards in recent history. Our Honour Roll is as follows:
Keep Australia Beautiful WA
Tidy Towns Awards, Overall Winners
1990 Albany
1991 Paraburdoo
1992 Tom Price
1993 Paraburdoo
1994 Mukinbudin
1995 Denmark
1996 Denmark
1997 Denmark
1998 Bruce Rock
1999 Bruce Rock
2000 Wyalkatchem
2001 Bridgetown
2002 Wyalkatchem
2003 Collie
2004 Kojonup
2005 Collie
2006 Cue
2007 Walpole
2008 Kambalda
Gail Dodd, the State Program Manager for Tidy Towns – Sustainable Communities is seeking further information about the history of the program, and is encouraging regional communities to enter the competition, which will be officially launched on Friday, 13 February. Registrations lodged online at www.kabc.wa.gov.au and further information is available by telephoning Gail on 6467 5131 or emailing tidytowns@dec.wa.gov.au.
