Beautifying Bourke

Bob and Melba Stutsel in the garden of their North Bourke home. Photo: Beverley Callow

Story and photo by Beverley Callow

For more than a decade, Bob Stutsel has devoted his time and money to Bourke’s flower gardens – and he does it for free.

Former policeman, councillor for 20 years, 2WEB board member and Western Herald columnist, Bob said he had no experience in gardening when he first started beautifying the town.

“I was one of the people who started the Men’s Shed. The park beside it was ‘really daggy’, so that was the first thing – to get the park going.

Bob later made about six flower boxes for a neighbour involved in the race club. After the event was over, he moved them to a café near the wharf.

“I thought they looked nice there. Eventually I made another four or six, so they went all down the fence and had hanging gardens. It looked absolutely beautiful,” he said.

Bob said he spent an hour a day caring for these flowers, then one day he was told about a local garden competition some people were participating in near the bowling club.

“So, I put in the irrigation, I put in the flowers and all they had to do was weed them. And here we are – I’m still doing it.

“It must be six years... could be ten. Time goes by.

“That’s how I got stuck doing them.”

Bob says the flowers in the street inspire him as he passes.

“To me they’re a thing of beauty,” he said. […]

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