Community pride is child's play

Published on 13 February 2025

Taking pride in where you live is child’s play – just ask Irymple’s Harry Thouliss.

The four year-old has been hard at play digging up weeds in the park across from his Milan Drive home and transporting them back to his family’s green bin in his new toy John Deere ute.

He was spotted doing his work by Mildura Rural City Council staff during a community consultation session to discuss what local residents want to see in the new Milan Drive Playground.

To acknowledge his efforts, Mildura Mayor Helen Healy and Irymple Ward Councillor Rebecca Crossling, who was at the consultation session, this week presented Harry with his own MRCC hi-vis vest.

“Our staff were out here consulting with the community at the park and here was Harry in his ute making sure it was all neat and tidy, so we just wanted to come back out here and say ‘thanks’ to him,” Cr Crossling said.

“We are working towards having the playground constructed in the middle of the year, but as you can see, it is already it is in good hands.”

Cr Healy said Harry proved you were never too young to do your bit for the community.

“He may only be four, but we can all look up to Harry,” she said. “He’s turned this into a game, but for all of us, it just shows that it doesn’t take much to play your part.

“It can be as simple as picking up a piece of rubbish in a playground, or when you are walking by the river, or looking after your nature strip. Every little bit helps in us taking pride in our beautiful towns, so well done to Harry.”

Harry’s mum, Madeline Matthews, said Harry got the toy ute at Christmas and had been at the park “nearly every day since”.

“He loves it,” she said. “He is just like my dad (Rick) as he also can’t walk past a weed without picking it.”