On Monday morning, 2nd March, a big red double-decker bus drew up at the Campbell Rhododendron Gardens. Fifty one students from the Torrens University Blue Mountains Hotel Management School in Leura, and their lecturer, Stephan Tseng, emerged.
Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School
The Torrens University Australia is part of the network of Laureate International Universities, whose creed is “Here for Good”. They ensure all their students maintain this philosophy by helping within their local communities.
Although these students do not have gardening skills, they assisted the regular gardening volunteers (affectionately called the MonVols), working in the fire-damaged areas of the Rhodo Gardens. They also joined the MonVols in the Lodge for tea and lunch.
Blue Mountains Tourism
In the afternoon, Jason Cronshaw, President of Blue Mountains Tourism, visited to ‘join the dots’, speaking to the students about the massive bushfires’ impact on tourism and the community, and ensuing recovery efforts. It was a successful collective Blue Mountains event in the spirit of Love Local, as Bunnings, Katoomba, donated gardening gloves for the students, and The Whisk & Pin, in Katoomba, provided confectioneries for tea.
Anyone can join the MonVols in the Rhodo Gardens on a Monday, and as there are so many varied tasks to be done on this 18.3ha property, a knowledge of gardening isn’t necessary. And it’s friendly fun.
Catherine Harker, Webmaster