Not everybody gets to work at a place as picturesque as the Werribee Park, but horticulture ranger Adam Xerri does. He chats to Fatima Halloum about being able to work in the community he comes from.
What’s your connection to Wyndham?
I have grown up in Wyndham and I am proud to call Wyndham home
What do you like about where you live?
Wyndham is a place that holds significant value not just in my life but many others, it is where I went to school, got my first job and the area I represented in sporting events.
What if anything would you change about where you live?
The number one thing I would change in Wyndham is investing heavily in youth programs. These programs provide a welcoming and safe environment for the youth of our community to learn and develop, giving them every chance we can to launch them into a bright future.
Where is your favourite local place to spend time?
Hands down my favourite local place to spend time is at Werribee Park. Whether it is the array of significant trees within the park, the sprawling lawns, vibrant roses to meticulously kept plant displays, there is always something new to discover at Werribee Park.
Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you
I was very hesitant to go back to school as being academic was never one of my strong points, but I bit the bullet and successfully completed my trade certificate in horticulture. Further education has not stopped there as I have completed countless training courses, machinery licenses and extensive career development within the Parks Victoria organisation.
What do you enjoy the most about working in Wyndham for Parks Victoria?
Working within my local community gives me a sense of deep satisfaction. Being able to create and maintain beautiful landscapes where people can relax, enjoy and create lifelong memories is something I strive to achieve on a daily basis. There has always been a negative stigma attached to the west and in particular Wyndham when in conversations with others who are from the other side of town, they unfortunately see Wyndham as the “treatment plant” or a “blue collar” neighborhood. I see Werribee Park as the gem in the west. There are not too many places where you can feel like you’re in another world. away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, turning off and connecting to nature. I truly feel blessed to be able to work in an environment where I am able to connect with our visitors, opening their eyes to the limitless beauty of nature by reconnecting them to the land.
