Australia’s cherished horticulturist and Junior Landcare advocate recently made a special appearance at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Werribee.
Saint Joseph’s in Werribee emerged as the proud winner of the Love Letters to the Land competition, which saw thousands of children from all corners of the country participate. The school submitted numerous letters, each brimming with heartfelt expressions of affection for the land and detailing their efforts to nurture it.
Having commenced with 127 students in January 2021, the school now boasts 300 students actively engaged in their remarkable garden space. Featuring a vegetable garden, bush tucker garden, frog habitat, medicine garden, worm farm, composting station, mud kitchen, and yarning circle, the school endeavors to create a space that embraces Indigenous Perspectives. Additionally, the school has secured a Woolworths Junior Landcare grant.
Students play a pivotal role in the research and design phases, refining skills, sharing knowledge, and fostering connections with the local environment. Through diverse projects, they develop an understanding of sustainable practices. By exploring local flora, fauna, and the various Kulin Nation seasons, students observe firsthand the impacts of their efforts in planting and supporting ecosystems.
Elizabeth McPherson, the Environmental Education teacher, expressed her delight upon learning of the school’s victory. She remarked, “Costa is a ray of sunshine. This feels like validation for the hard work the children have put in. The kids are thrilled to meet Costa; we all love watching Gardening Australia Junior.”
Accompanied by the school’s Environment Captains, Costa embarked on a tour, engaged in a surprise assembly he hosted for the students, and participated in planting activities.
Reflecting on his visit, Costa remarked, “I’ve just spent a seriously memorable morning with children and educators from Saint Joseph’s Primary school at Werribee just outside of Melbourne. Their contribution to the love letters to the land Junior Landcare project was above and beyond and I had the chance to read some of the 300 letters shared by the students at the school. It was such a pleasure to recognise this effort with a face-to-face visit.
I had a great yarn with the children who are all fired up to talk about their garden projects and other Junior Landcare activities they have been implementing in their school grounds. And the thing that struck me the most is that the school itself is only four years old in the garden even younger, yet they are slowly and surely building an incredibly productive and educational space that is inclusive of all the students.
Garden educator Elizabeth McPherson is an absolute powerhouse and is energising the children to explore their natural environment. She is helping the children to create connections from the classroom to outdoors turning it into a fun end inspiring learning experience. We are so lucky to have wonderful educators like Elizabeth to lead the next generation of landcare leaders to fall in love and care for our planet”
