Celebrations of the Dalai Lama's birthday by the Blue Mountains Tibetan community took a different turn this year with the COVID-19 restrictions.
In response to the request of their spiritual leader to celebrate his July 6 birthday by cleaning up the environment, more than 40 members of the local Tibetan community joined a bushcare workshop at Katoomba Cascades. It was especially organised for them by council's natural assets staff.
Community organiser Samzin Kalsang said: "Keeping the natural environment clean for all living beings is one of the biggest concerns of his Holiness the Dalai Lama. During the COVID time, it was a great opportunity to do this especially living in the Blue Mountains."
The morning activities included weeding, reducing the fuel load, planting and watering in ferns and wattles, and mulching.
It was a first bushcare experience for the community. While the children played in the picnic area, the new bushcare volunteers, ranging from teenagers to the elderly, took to the task with enthusiasm.
Ms Kalsang said: "It was a great opportunity for us to contribute to our local community. I think everyone enjoyed cleaning and planting. Everyone said it was a great fun activity."
Cr Kerry Brown, a bushcare volunteer who also attended, said: "Council staff did a fantastic job introducing our Tibetan community to bushcare. It was amazing how much was achieved in a couple of hours. It was full of laughter with food and circle dancing to top it off. "
