Metro station ticket officer Graham Osborne revamps Greensborough Train Station

THIS is what we call taking your job seriously. A Metro Trains ticket officer has used his own money to plant a 100m garden bed next to tracks at a station in Melbourne’s north.

A Metro ticketing officer (not the inspector) called Graham Osborn has put native plants adjacent to the track at Greensborough train station to spruce it up, with money out of his own pocket. With flourishing plant, Pelargonium.

TRAIN tracks often look drab and lifeless, but that’s not the case for Greensborough Train Station courtesy of Metro station ticket officer Graham Osborne.

Three years ago the passionate horticulturalist started planting the foundations for a 100m garden bed, adjacent to the track near Pouter Ave, after his shift.

Now up to 40 varieties are growing in the strip — including yuccas, red hot pokers, pelargonium, salvias, euphorbias, lavender and various succulents.

“They are mostly drought-tolerant plants,” Mr Osborne said.

“You have to be mindful of what you can grow in this harsh environment because it has fairly compacted soil and clay.”

Prior to working with Metro, Mr Osborne held various positions at Melbourne’s parks and gardens and the Adelaide Royal Botanic Gardens.

Mr Osborne said he was chuffed when commuters commented on the garden during their travels.

“They either ask me questions about it over the counter or comment on how nice it makes the place look,” he said.

“Others reflect on how gardening was really big 20 or 30 years ago around Melbourne, unlike today because of the drought.

“It’s quite interesting to be able to connect with customers that way.”

Mr Osborne thanked fellow colleagues for their plant donations to help with the project.