At the 2009 Local Government Managers Australia National Congress in Darwin, Local Government FOCUS invited delegates to nominate individuals or teams from their councils who are
improving operations or enhancing service delivery within their community.
In this edition, we showcase two more of our high achievers for 2009.
Deon Schumann, Senior Horticulturalist, Port Augusta City Council, SA
Since beginning work for Council in 1984, Deon Schumann has done a full circle at the City of Port Augusta.
After completing his apprenticeship, he completed his trade, moved on to become a leading hand, and eventually progressed into administration as Council’s Parks Technical Officer. In this role, he oversaw the maintenance and upkeep of 74 parks and also took care of bookings for events like weddings and community gatherings.
Located on the quiet waterways at the head of the Spencer Gulf, and in close proximity to the spectacular Flinders Ranges in South Australia, tourism is a major drawcard for Port Augusta. Council is committed to doing all it can to entice visitors and people passing through to stay longer than they intended.
“Appearance is a key part of this,” Deon Schumann said. “As such, the amenity value and the upkeep of our streetscapes and public places is crucial to making a good impression and making people feel like it is a great place to stay. It was my job to ensure all our parks were safe, workable, neat and tidy.”
Deon’s Local Government journey continues today, having moved, only last month, into a horticultural role at Council’s Australian Arid Lands Botanic Gardens.
Opened in 1996, the Gardens cover 20 hectares and provide a national focus for arid zone ecosystem conservation and promote its economic importance for Australia. They feature special conservation areas, an extensive network of meandering tracks and an eremophila, or emu bush garden as it is more commonly known.
Deon has always had some involvement with the Arid Lands Botanic Gardens, having developed an award winning interpretive range of signage for them in 2006. Not only did he research and collate the text for the informational signage within the park but he also designed a conservation, heritage and Indigenous logo for the signs, so that categories could be quickly identified at a glance.
An Adelaide design house involved in the production of the signs submitted them to the Interpretation Australia Association National Awards for Excellence. The project received a commendation in the Best of Excellence category, and as a result, the South Australian Tourism Commission is now using the signage as a training tool.
Deon said it was very rewarding to be recongised through the award and for something a little different than usual business.
In his new role at the Gardens, Deon is overseeing the propagation and launch of the new ‘Arid Smart’ range of 280 native plant species, which are available for sale through the Botanic Gardens nursery.
“I’ve always held a keen interest in the propagation of plants and I enjoy being able to research, select and choose native plants to suit different projects,” Deon Schumann said. “While challenging, this new role will be rewarding for me.”
Deon said he appreciates the diversity of Local Government and, most importantly, the people he works with. He said working for Council is like being part of a big family.
“It has good social aspects and everyone is there to support each other,” Deon Schumann said.
“While keeping everyone happy is always a challenge, I am lucky to have worked in a role that allows ratepayers to see and visualise progress, creating a positive view towards Council and what it does for the community. I enjoy looking back and thinking, ‘I planted those trees ten to 15 years ago and look at the benefits they now provide for the city’. It is rewarding to know that the community see these plantings every day.”
Councillors Alan Morris and Tony Mitchell nominated Deon to appear in FOCUS. They said he is a quiet achiever who is continually offering premium customer service.
“He quietly and effectively is a fantastic operator,” they said.
Library Team, Denmark Shire Council, WA
Located on the coast of Western Australia, approximately 400 kilometres south of Perth, the Shire of Denmark has a population of just over 5,000 people. The area is well serviced by a number of community and recreational facilities, including the Denmark Library.
Council’s Director Finance and Administration, Garry Bird, oversees the management of the library. He said Library Manager Robyn Fairclough and her two staff, Hazel Leslie and Emily McCloy, are extremely passionate about what they do and are keen to share that enthusiasm with the wider community.
“From the minute you walk in, there is a friendly and inviting ambience,” Garry Bird said. “The big smiles on the staff’s faces are ever welcoming and they are always more than happy to show patrons around and help them out.”
Garry Bird said the staff have done a fantastic job in diversifying the patronage of the library.
“They have implemented programs such as ‘Better Beginnings’, which encourages parents, particularly those with newborns, to bring their children in for reading and information sessions,” he said. “This is not only attracting younger mums and children to the library, but is promoting literacy as well.”
Denmark CEO, Dale Stewart, nominated the library staff to appear in FOCUS. He said they consistently receive bouquets for themselves and for Council for their commitment and passion towards integrating the library into every day lives.
“Customer feedback confirms that they are doing a fantastic job in a much loved Council service,” Dale Stewart said.
In 2008, Council conducted a survey of community attitudes on Shire operations. The results were released earlier this year and indicate a high level of satisfaction with the customer service and programs offered by the Denmark Library. A high number of respondents (31.79 per cent) rated the quality of customer service as excellent.
Robyn Fairclough said running the library involves more than just the day to day duties of issuing loans, returns and so forth.
“As the only library in the Shire, we are also responsible for creating and running programs that cater for our diverse community, and for providing information to increase literacy and wellbeing,” she said. “The Better Beginnings program is one such program.
“Research into early brain development shows that a child’s ability to learn and to develop pre literacy skills is greater if they are read to from birth. We want to share information like this with new parents, to ensure they have the best chance of doing what they can to assist with their child’s development.
“To further encourage parent and child interaction, we have also developed a child friendly space. This area features items like educational books, toys, shelving, beanbags, play mats and a safe and comfortable place for parenting and breast feeding.”
Other programs offered through the library include Storytime for all ages, and the Living Library, where patrons can check out an actual person for a chat on their field of expertise. A book club is run monthly, providing a chance for members to socialise and widen their appreciation of books, while visiting authors are engaged during Children’s Book Week to visit local schools and encourage more teenagers to use the library.
Robyn believes the library team is successful and effective as they are all dedicated to and enjoy their roles with the public.
“We also have an excellent rapport and a sense of humour,” she said.
“Working in a library is a wonderful experience, offering the chance to engage with and help people and also to be surrounded by brilliant books.
“The community and Council are very supportive of our work, which makes getting the job done so much easier.
“I am extremely grateful and honoured that Council has acknowledged our efforts through nominating us for this article, it is very rewarding.”
