Lord Mayor Clover Moore and residents attended the official
opening of the community garden last week, which began as a simple plan to
renovate the school’s grounds.
It soon became three sustainable gardens incorporating
native vegetation, a vegetable and herb garden and an indigenous women’s space,
as around 45 per cent of the school’s students are of indigenous heritage.
The garden is part of the Growing Green Communities and Adopt-A-School Sustainable Gardens
projects supported by grants from Sydney Council, the Sydney Institute TAFENSW
and the Sydney Local Community Adopt-A-School partnership program.
Many Aboriginal students took part in the garden and were
mentored by staff from the Redfern Waterloo Authority, the Brick and Block laying
Training Foundation, Sydney Council, and Sydney Institute TAFENSW.
Teachers at the school said the gardens had an excellent
effect on the students.
“If kids create something, they’ll look after it,
they’ll respect it,” said Joy Smith, primary school and Aboriginal
education resources teacher.
NAIDOC Week activities will include a family day in Alexandria Park on Friday, July 11, and
performances and speeches in Forbes
Street, Woolloomooloo on Saturday, July 12.
Photo:-Phil Rogers – Children from Alexandria Park
Community School
dance at the opening of the new community garden.
Source: Central 9th July 2008.