Ms Grant toured the city’s visiting finalists in the Tidy Towns competition. 

She said she was excited to return to Horsham, having visited in 2015 for judging. 

“Tidy Towns is a great way to bring people together, to promote pride in an area and bring forward good ideas,” she said.

“It gives focus and structure and opportunity to ideas. It brings people of all ages and aspects of society together.”

Ms Grant said the competition was about much more than litter and cleanliness. 

“We look at the overall impression of the town and the layout, but Tidy Towns is more than that – it’s about community spirit and bringing the environment and cultural heritage into a program,” she said.

Ms Grant said the program promoted environmental education, waste and litter management as well as participation and innovation.

She said she was particularly please with how Horsham’s young people had gotten involved in the program.

“It’s a great sense of community and how young people are working to make a difference and bring the community together,” she said. “They clearly enjoy living here and want to share that and motivate other young people to work for the future good of the town.”

Horsham Tidy Towns Committee chair Gillian Vanderwaal said throughout Ms Grant’s visit there was a sense of pride in the community.

“There’s a lovely feeling in the community,” she said. “It’s a lovely opportunity to showcase Horsham as a beautiful place. 

“Volunteering is the spirit of Horsham. That community spirit has been maintained even as the town has grown. We’ve maintained that strong community spirit.”

Ms Grant visited Horsham Rural City Council offices to talk about the Northfest festival, before she headed to Green Lake to discuss its clean up, ahead of a tour of the Horsham Men’s Shed.

At the town hall, Ms Grant heard about the Nutbush world record attempt, before a meeting at the Horsham Sports and Community Club and discussions about the fostering future leaders program and Horsham Urban Landcare Group. 

Ms Grant also inspected the May and Millar Wagon, the Horsham Christian Emergency Food Bank and community gardens before meeting with Dalton Cross.