West Wyalong Students Partner With Bland Shire Council

A new partnership between Bland Shire Council and West Wyalong High School is giving local students the opportunity to step out of the classroom and into the workforce, with practical, hands-on experience alongside Council's Parks and Gardens team.

On various days throughout the school year, students will work across a range of community spaces, including the West Wyalong Cemetery and several parks and gardens around town, assisting with planting, landscaping, general maintenance, and beautification works. The program gives students a real-world taste of the career paths available within local government while contributing positively to spaces used and loved by the whole community.

The initiative is part of Council's growing commitment to youth engagement, aiming to instil in students a sense of pride in their local area, develop teamwork and workplace skills, and showcase the value of public service roles in shaping a community.

Mayor of Bland Shire, Cr Brian Monaghan, praised the students for their enthusiasm and commitment to the program.

"This is a fantastic example of community working together. These students have shown genuine pride in where they live, and the results of their hard work will be visible across the region," the Mayor said. "We're not only giving young people a foot in the door to explore career options — we're helping them build real-life skills and a lasting connection to their community."

This Parks and Gardens opportunity builds on other successful student volunteering programs supported by Council, including ongoing student roles at the Bland Shire Library, where young people assist with shelving, customer service, and community events.

Cr Monaghan said initiatives like these reflect Council's long-term commitment to nurturing the next generation.

"We're proud to offer meaningful learning experiences to local students. Whether it's in our parks, our library, or other Council services, these programs help shape responsible, skilled and community-minded young adults."

This Parks and Gardens program, along with student volunteering at the Bland Shire Library, highlights the positive impact of collaboration between Council and local schools. By providing meaningful, real-world experiences, these initiatives help build skills, confidence, and community pride among young people. Council is proud to support these opportunities and looks forward to strengthening these partnerships in the years ahead.