Regenerating local landmark Rocky Hill has been a five-year labour of love for South Wagga Rotary and community volunteers.

From removing woody weeds to planting more than 1000 trees and shrubs, the volunteers have dedicated thousands of hours to restoring the nature reserve for native plants and animals that call the site home.

Their hard work protecting the 52-hectare environment has been given a helping hand by Return and Earn, with over $1,322 raised to help with expenses thanks to 13,228 drink containers returned as donations since September 2022. 

“Rocky Hill is a White Box Gum community and there are Eastern grey kangaroos, blue tongue lizards, snakes and about 60 different species of birds,” said Milena Dunn, South Wagga Rotary Rocky Hill Regeneration project coordinator.

“Rocky Hill is in Kooringal, almost in the centre of Wagga. It had been neglected, and we wanted to regenerate it.”

Bringing the site back to its former glory will now be a little bit easier thanks to the installation of a 27,000-litre rainwater tank.

“It is wonderful to have the tank, funded by a Commonwealth volunteer grant, Return and Earn Australia Day Runner-Up Environmental award and a Wollundry Rotary Environmental donation,” Milena said.

“With the tank we can now carry the water down the hill rather than carrying water up the hill.”

Funds from the current Return and Earn fundraising campaign are put towards ongoing Rocky Hill regeneration costs, running the website and another environmental project, the Wagga Youth Circular Lids Initiative, which re-uses plastic bottle lids as new products.

• To donate search for South Wagga Wagga Rotary’s Please help regenerate Rocky Hill and our local environment project in the charity section of the Return and Earn app.
• Learn more about the Rocky Hill Regeneration Project online: Rocky Hill Regeneration Project
• To learn more South Wagga Rotary Club visit their Facebook page: South Wagga Wagga Rotary Club | Facebook