Community gardener heads home

Port Hedland will say goodbye to a valued community gardener next week.

Care for Hedland Environmental Association garden program co-ordinator Alex Sakalidis is moving home to Perth.

Ms Sakalidis arrived in June and during her Pilbara term, she helped with the gardening workshops, established worm farms, ran market stalls, set up the community garden and taught gardening classes at schools, youth centres and day care centres.

She said teaching was a big part of her role.

"I loved every minute of it, it was challenging, but I got to learn so much," she said

"I was able to learn how to run events, meet a lot of people that were also really environmentally-conscious and really trying to make a change in Port Hedland.

"I find people like Kelly Howlett inspirational, the way she's set up Care for Hedland, and it's been running for 10 years so it's a great success story and I hope I can try and replicate Care for Hedland in other places I go to."

Ms Howlett said because of Ms Sakilidis' energy, passion and dedication, the organisation was able to achieve a lot.

"It is testament to her generous nature," she said.

"I know she has enjoyed her time, the landscape and plants of the Pilbara and we hope to see Alex back here sometime soon."

Care for Hedland co-ordinator Pip Short said she thoroughly enjoyed having Ms Sakilidis on board.

"I've never heard a negative word out of her mouth, she's always friendly and really enthusiastic, she really loves her work and we'll sadly miss her," she said.

Ms Sakilidis officially finishes her role this Saturday, and flies back to Perth on October 11.