Community Guardian Thank You Event 2007!
28/03/2007
PIONEERING Marlene Garrett is still an inspiration to others 10 years after becoming one of Manchester's first environmental guardians.
Marlene, of Assheton Road, was a community activist a decade ago then volunteered to become an official community guardian when the first trial was set up in Newton Heath in 2003.
Now she has been trumpeted as "the backbone of Newton Heath" by a fellow community guardian, who also describes her as "an inspiration" to Manchester's 700 guardians.
"We all love Marlene. She's an inspiration to us all," said Margaret Byrne.
"There are now 700 of us but we all still look to Marlene for help and advice. Her phone never stops ringing and her door never stops knocking but she never says no to anybody."
Marlene was one of the guests at a special event last week for all Manchester's community guardians at Manchester Town Hall - hosted by Granada TV's Paul Crone - to thank them for their hard work.
She responded to youth vandalism by setting up the Eco Youth group to get local teenagers involved in clearing parks and planting flower beds and has now set up a project to transform dumped wooden pallets into wishing wells and wheelbarrows to decorate people's gardens.
"These teenagers now have pride in their community and feel responsible for what goes on here," said Margaret. "The effects can be seen all over the area."
Marlene said she was amazed by how well thought of she is by others: "I don't do it for accolades.
"It is really satisfying and I've made so many friends along the way. We are like a family because we are all in it for the same thing - improving our areas and keeping them safe.
"Margaret is the type of person who makes it all worthwhile."
Community guardians 'adopt' an area by becoming the eyes and ears of the council and reporting anything that needs attention, such as graffiti, litter, dog dirt and broken lights. They also organise clean ups and unlock alleygates on bin days.
First published by the North East Manchester Advertiser
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