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General News

25 September, 2019

School inducted into hall of fame

MOUNT Molloy State School has been ushered into the history books with their recent induction into the Mareeba Garden Awards Hall of Fame.

By Rhys Thomas

School inducted into hall of fame - feature photo

MOUNT Molloy State School has been ushered into the history books with their recent induction into the Mareeba Garden Awards Hall of Fame.

The little school was inducted for their three year stint as winner of the Garden Sustainability category with their recent win at the 2019 Garden Show Awards in August.

The garden in question was only small until the start of 2012 when the school was gifted a $60 000 grant courtesy of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation which allowed the school to build a state of the art kitchen and improve on the garden.

The garden helps students gain life skills and helps educate them on sustainability practices. Juliana Russel has been a vital part in growing the attitude towards sustainability and the garden itself being dubbed the ‘Garden Specialist’.

“It’s rewarding and shows the kids how to practice sustainability for the future,” Mrs Russel said.

“The students can learn a lot that can help them in the future through this program.

“Reusing seeds, water and doing certain practices that promote sustainability.”

The students use all the ingredients grown in the garden to supply their pizza making business which opens once a term.

Teacher/Co-ordinator Coyle MacGregor is thrilled with the progress of the students and their garden.

“Juliana had a small garden at school, so we applied for the grant at the end of 2011,” she said.

“When we got the grant at the beginning of 2012 we repurposed one of the spare classrooms and built a state of the art kitchen.

“We were the last of the big grants of $60 000, now it’s only about $10 000.”

The gardening program is now engrained within the school as it is now a part of the curriculum for the students.

Joy Peterson from the Mareeba District Garden Committee was on hand to present Mount Molloy State School their awards along with Elaine Duncan from Flourish Plants to gift them some flowers.

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