Walpole takes two tidy town trophies

Walpole is the toast of WA after it took out two gongs at the National Tidy Towns awards in South Australia on Friday night, April 4

Walpole was the only award winner to claim two categories — the environmental innovation and protection award, and Dame Phyllis frost litter prevention award.

Walpole Tidy Towns committee member Jennifer Willcox said the community was extremely happy and proud.

“Many thought we were the favourites,” she said.

“We certainly blitzed all other State finalists in the two categories that we took out top honours in.

“Tidy Towns Sustainable Communities is more than just a neat and tidy, pretty town, more than colourful petunias in flower boxes — in Walpole it is our way of life.”

The latest accolades come after Walpole won the tidiest town in the South West title in September for the fourth year running, and was then crowned tidiest town in WA.

It is the second Dame Phyllis frost litter prevention award for the community, with Walpole Tidy Towns Committee member Michael Filby receiving one in 2008.

Keep Australia Beautiful national chief executive Peter McLean said Walpole being the first region in the country to declare itself litter free was inspirational.

“This positive action is an aspirational goal to changing littering culture,” he said.

Sheffield in Tasmania was Australia’s tidiest town.