AlburyCity’s community wood fired oven has scooped a national award recognising the significant role it plays in bringing neighbours and communities together.
Launched as a community facility in 2006, the wood fired oven attracts about 100 people to its bakes every second Sunday. It has also become a destination for larger community events such as Harmony Day, and is hired for private functions.
In September, the oven took out the Inclusive and Connected Communities category of the national Parks and Leisure Australia Awards, the key professional association providing services to members of the parks and leisure industry.
This followed the oven winning the equivalent award at a State level in August.
Councillor Daryl Betteridge accepted the award in Darwin. After giving a presentation to 300 conference delegates on the history of the oven, he has been overwhelmed by the number of people who have since approached him, enthused by what AlburyCity has achieved.
“People from much larger councils are really impressed with what we have done,” he said.
“They’re impressed that it has cost so little to achieve something that has such great social benefits for the community.
“Winning this award has really had an impact on Albury being perceived as a resourceful, creative and clever community that has created something quite groundbreaking with a minimal financial outlay.”
He said other councils were particularly impressed with the way Albury had overcome safety concerns and ensured that the baking process resulted in high quality food.
Then Mayor Patricia Gould said Albury residents could be very proud that their oven had won two prestigious Parks and Leisure Australia awards.
“It brings great kudos to our City and reflects well on the quality of staff we have here at AlburyCity,” she said. “This was a fabulous idea from the outset, so it is wonderful that it is now achieving such high level recognition.”
The community wood fired oven continues to grow as a place for the community to gather and enjoy Hovell Tree Park, which is situated on the banks of the Murray River.
The venue has enabled additional funding to be obtained by Council for multicultural and cultural activities aimed at bringing the community together.
For further information contact Council’s Cultural Development Coordinator, Narelle Vogel, on (02) 6023 8753.
