As Wyndham council asks residents about their vision for the city in 25 years’ time, Werribee resident John Forrester shares his Wyndham 2040 Project story.
Why did you choose Wyndham as the place to live?
After arriving in Werribee in 1981, my family and I developed a love for the Werribee River and its catchment. From that grew a sense of belonging to the area, which led me to learn skills and understandings of the natural environment and what it can provide for a community’s health. Pursuing that has given me many great experiences, taken me interstate and overseas and enabled me to develop a global understanding of the Werribee River and its needs.
What is your favourite story about this place?
My favourite story about the river has to be centred on the development of community concern in the 1970s, when the first calls were made to protect and defend the Werribee River. In 1972, Leo Doolan, Joe Sammartino and Brian Smith, of Werribee Jaycees, wrote a report on their vision for the river, which included encouraging an organisation to protect it. By 1974, the Werribee Conservation League had formed and was chaired by Frank Purcell, who called for work on untreated effluent coming from upstream. From that, the Werribee River Association began its work in 1981, and it’s still active today. That’s a story of healthy community activism, which a growing community should encourage.
What do you hope Wyndham will be like in 2040?
I hope the river will be proclaimed a linear park for the people for all time, from the headwaters in the Wombat Forest to the sea. I’d like to see river flows that return clean, fishable water to the river, keeping it in healthy condition. Those hopes are not just mine, but come from the past and are being shared by current generations to ensure future residents have a river that gives them good health and enjoyment.
Share your Wyndham 2040 story at www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/wyndham2040
