Title: President, Coordinator

Company: Friends of Toolern Creek

Location: Melton West, VIC

With an insatiable passion for fundraising and even planning, Lyn Holdsworth continues in her 11^th year as president and coordinator at Friends of Toolern Creek. Through the nonprofit organization, she organizes the corporate volunteers, and oversees the primary and secondary schools at Melton West, VIC. Specifically, she looks after the progress of maintenance of the creek, works with fundraising, plans events, and does public speaking. Initially, Ms. Holdsworth became involved in her profession because she saw a need, and with the help of many individuals, she transformed a once-dumping ground into a lovely park setting.

The Friends of Toolern Creek has transformed a once-neglected stretch of creek frontage in the shadow of the Western Highway overpass in Melton West into a people-friendly park for families. In 2005, the property was a focus of anti-social activity and vandalism, and rubbish was dumped regularly. The site has been transformed dramatically over a relatively short time into a park that is both a haven for native wildlife and a pleasant park where families can visit for passive recreation and to enjoy the natural beauty of the local environment. The ancient red gum trees leaning over pools of water in the creek create an atmosphere of tranquility.

Her company has been in operation for only a few years, but Ms. Holdsworth and her team have conducted extensive plantings of locally indigenous plants, and they conduct planting and maintenance activities on a weekly basis throughout the year. In five years, Ms. Holdsworth plans to experience continued professional growth.