Originally published July 21, 1989

PRIME Minister Bob Hawke and wife Hazel arrived in Sunraysia to a warm welcome as thousands turned out to greet the couple.

Celebrating her 60th birthday at Wentworth, Mrs Hawke planted the first of a billion trees her husband hopes will regreen Australia and boost his chances at a fourth term in office.

Mr Hawke launched what he promised would be the world's most comprehensive environment statement in the salinity-beset New South Wales town.

The statement promised about $420 million in new spending over the next decade and drew together environmental issues ranging from recycled toilet paper to the greenhouse effect.

It's main focus was on what farmers and conservationists have called Australia's number one environmental problem -- land degradation.

Mr Hawke nominated a Decade of Landcare -- to begin in 1990 with a Year of Landcare -- and committed $320 million over the next 10 years to tackling land degradation problems.

A crowd of about 2000 greeted Mr Hawke and three state premiers at the "Town on Two Rivers" to launch the Federal Government's major environment statement.

Riverboats Melbourne and Coonawarra were moored near the junction and several houseboats tooted greetings to the crowd as they went past.

Mr Hawke's day began early in Renmark with a call from United States president George bush for a briefing on the political situation in Hungary.

The Hawkes made an unscheduled stop at the Meringur State School where about 20 children stood holding a large sign saying: "Happy birthday, Mrs Hawke."

The children sang happy birthday to Mrs Hawke, then gave her three rousing cheers.

Precision security by plain clothes and uniform police showed what could be done with co-operation between the states.

The first Australian Prime Minister to visit the city while in office, Mr Hawke celebrated with a glass of orange juice at the Mildura Working Man's Club.