As patron of the Regional Centre of Expertise in Education of Sustainable Development (RCE), he had a whirlwind tour on all things dealing with sustainability in Albury-Wodonga.

Dr John Rafferty, a lecturer in environment education at the Institute of Land, Water and Society at Charles Sturt University, said the popular gardening celebrity loved every minute of it, from the time he arrived on the Border on Thursday until he left on Saturday.

“We brought Costa here as part of Sustainability Living Week, an initiative between RCE — a United Nations university designation at the institute — the Albury and Wodonga councils and the Hume Bank,” Dr Rafferty said.

“He did a story reading session with preschoolers at the Albury Library Museum, spoke at an eco-living display at the Grove in Wodonga, launched the City of Wodonga Sustainability report and opened the edible landscaping project in Wodonga.

“It was here that he told Wodonga mayor Rod Wangman that Albury-Wodonga was at the forefront of sustainability with what is happening here and leaving other municipalities, some richer, behind.

“As well, he visited Albury Public School and helped them plant their native plants garden and spoke to them about their wonderful vegetable garden.

“Costa also opened the relocated native garden project at the Wodonga recycling centre, spoke at the community garden at the CSU campus and was a special guest at the Green Market at Hovell Tree Park in Albury on Saturday.”

Dr Rafferty said the North East Local Produce Guide, which Georgiadis launched, most impressed him.

The guide lists farmers and growers within the North East catchment region and surrounds, who sell produce locally.

It it is funded by the Australian government’s Caring for our Country program. Indigo Council contributed funds, while it is supported by Landcare groups, the North East Catchment Management Authority and the Department of Environment and Primary Industries.

“He was super impressed by it because by having a local focus it contributes to understanding sustainability, understanding what we eat and understanding where our food comes from,” Dr Rafferty said.

More reports — Country Mail next week