A big green finish to 2016 for Mission Australia Housing’s Clarence Plains community
Spearheaded by Mission Australia Housing, the project is being brought to life with support from Rokeby High School and Clarendon Vale Primary students and staff, Conservation Volunteers Australia, Child and Family Centre members, Community Center members and Men’s Shed members.
Featuring an orchard, vegetable gardens, bush tucker, community spaces, artwork, a pizza oven, and “break out” educational and performance spaces, along with disability access, Mission Australia program manager Andrew Doube said the project was a “labour of love” initiated by Mission Australia Housing and overseen by a steering committee of local community members.
Scheduled to open early this year, Andrew says the garden will provide an inclusive place “where people in the community can gather, celebrate, grow and harvest food.”
“The G.R.O.W community garden is truly a whole community event,” he said. “It brings together design elements echoing Clarence Plains’ agricultural and Aboriginal history, reaching back to the Mu-henna Oyster Bay people, as well as the more recent farming community.
“We hope to teach children about the land and share a sense of connection to the earth.”
Clarendon Vale Primary School teacher aid Roxanne McIntyre, who has been actively involved in the program, said the new community garden linked in with the school’s gardening option for students.
“Every student from kindergarten onwards is involved in the gardening option at some point during the year,” she said.
“It is important for them to understand where their food comes from and how to grow it.
“During the implementation of the G.R.O.W Community Garden project, every student was asked what they wanted to see included, which means the garden is truly a part of the school and a part of them.
“We had a really positive response from students, parents and the school community – it’s been a long-time getting to this point, so for everyone involved it is very exciting to actually see things coming together.”
Project steering committee member Michael Preddy said, “It’s an exciting initiative for the wider community that should engage and entertain the people of Clarence Plains, supplying both physical and spiritual rewards,” he said.
“It is just the beginning of what we foresee for the Clarence Plains community in the future.”
back to top
