By SARAH MATTHEWS

A Wimmera business leader is using his organisation’s expertise to give back to the community and has called on others to join him.

Millers Civil Contractors managing director Jay Miller came up with the ‘One Village’ concept earlier this year as a way to make a positive contribution to the region he lived and worked in.

Mr Miller said he recognised the Horsham-based company had significant resources ‘on tap’, such as a range of earthmoving plant, a quarry and ‘above all, a great range of staff with diverse skills and the willingness to give some of their time to help others in their community’.

“At the moment with everything going on we just wanted to do something to pay it forward,” he said.

“I put the One Village idea to the staff and they jumped at it. They were more than happy to be involved and volunteer their time. 

“We wanted to create something long-lasting and we felt this was more significant than just paying to hang a sign on a fence.”

Mr Miller called for submissions on the business’s Facebook page and said he was excited to receive ‘a good number of worthy projects to choose from’.

He said One Village leaders selected three projects after assessing their individual merit.

“We originally intended to select only one submission, but staff enthusiasm resulted in three projects getting the tick,” he said.

“The first submission was made by a friend of a local family who have been severely affected by the health problems of their young son. 

“They are in the process of building a new family home and we were able to construct a driveway to the house carport area and new shed and surrounds.”

Mr Miller said the second submission, by Horsham Agricultural Society, involved stripping and relevelling Horsham Showground’s Maydale Reserve for new grass planting.

“This will allow the area to become a more usable space for future events. Plus, it beautifies the area, providing better visual amenities,” he said.

Mr Miller said the third submission, by Natimuk Landcare Group, involved ‘simply hard work’ from staff, removing existing plants and old irrigation pipe work.

“This enabled the raised garden beds in the community centre of Natimuk to be landscaped in a similar fashion to the other works that have helped revitalise the main street,” he said.

“We are pleased to have Natimuk included as it sits well with our logo of ‘One Village’.”

Mr Miller said the successful project recipients were happy with the results.

He said he looked forward to continuing to grow the village and would call for further project submissions in the future.

“It was going to be an annual thing but now we’re thinking every six months. It might be quarterly, we’re not sure yet,” Mr Miller said.

He encouraged other Wimmera businesses to support the project.

“We think it lends itself to other businesses – we’ve already had two want to be involved,” he said.

“We are really hoping the ‘One Village’ initiative can grow into an ongoing platform from which we can continue to contribute to the area in which we live.”

Business leaders can call Millers on 5382 4027 or send a private message on Facebook for more information.

People can also ‘like’ Millers Civil Contractors on Facebook for updates.

The entire September 16, 2020 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!