BEAUTIFYING STREETS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 53, 31 August 1926, Page 9

BEAUTIFYING STREETS

MOVEMENT IN SYDNEY.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

SYDNEY, 19th August.

If the average man wrestles with a lawn mower and generally knocks off work "to carry bricks" during the week-end, in order to beautify his home and keep it in something like order, he feels that lie has a fair claim upon the local council to beautify the street ■which his houge fronts. A strong sense of civic pride, however, and possibly the knowledge that the local bodies are a little sluggish about these matters, as well as the belief that by a little self-help they caii appreciate the valuo p£ their properties and surroundings, has prompted the residents of some of the North Shore suburbs, and latterly, of Aehficld, a western suburb a few miles out from the centre of the city, to get together to beautify their streets. In these suburbs, as a result, plain, drab streets have become veritable gardens, things of beauty and of refreshment to the eye and the spirit as well of mere utility. One may there walk down streets sweetened with the breath of flowors and brightened with velvety lawns and with graceful palms. Other streets in. other suburbs, that know not civic pride, are but the gross handiwork of the pick and shovel man. A little civio prida and a little bit of gardening have transformed some of the suburban streets into things of beauty. The residents of Service avenue, Ashfield, a few days ago crowned their spare time and self-appointed job by a pleasant little ceremonial on the lawn of one of the householders, taking the form of a presentation of prizes to those along the street who had produced the best results in the beautification of their thoroughfare. The first and second prizes went to women. Service avenue to-day under the influence of its beautification club is perfumed and aglow with flower gardens, trees, and nicelykept lawns. By a little self-help, streets in somo of Sydney's suburbs that in the past have figuratively frowned to-day smilo at one.