A car boot sale and cake-cutting event was held at the Purple Op Shop at the weekend.

Action group president Robert Clarke was disappointed with the event turnout, but said he would remain resilient. 

“You speak to a lot of people in Launceston and Rocherlea hasn’t got a very good reputation,” he said.

“What we’re trying to do is lift the perception of Rocherlea.

“It’s a beautiful place.”

Mr Clarke said the community should believe in itself, and cited the achievements of Rocherlea-born Daniel Geale and Ricky Ponting as evidence people could live a successful life.

Since its formation the Rocherlea Action Group has been the target of vandalism.

When tomatoes were thrown on the car park and a tree snapped, Mr Clarke said the small group briefly questioned its existence. 

“We didn’t think we were going to make it,” he said. 

“But we sat there and thought ‘they’re not going to beat us’.

“We do have a heart for this community and the community is struggling financially, as a lot of the communities are.”

The Rocherlea Action Group plans to improve and expand the garden by installing and painting pavers, and scarecrows made from car tyres.

“We’d love to see kids come down more and help out in the garden,” he said. 

Mr Clarke praised the council for its financial investment and support at Rocherlea.