Green thumbs rewarded

Horsham Primary School’s Rasmussen campus is a finalist in 2018 Victorian School Garden Awards.

The campus is in the running for a ‘most engaging garden for learning’ category.

An awards presentation day will be in Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens tomorrow to celebrate winning schools’ gardening achievements and announce category, state and Kevin Heinze Perpetual Award winners.

Stevie Clark, a grade-two pupil at the Rasmussen campus and a garden club member, will represent her school and hopes to bring home an award along with a cash prize.

Garden club project leader with Wimmera Southern Mallee Local Learning and Employment Network Melissa Powell said students had worked ‘incredibly’ hard during the past 12 months.

“Being nominated as a finalist is recognition of their contribution. The students have a real sense of ownership and pride in their school,” she said.

Assistant principal Brenda Evans thanked supporters and sponsors for getting behind the project.

“The LLEN, Wimmera Catchment Management Authority, Brad Koenig and Bunnings provided direct support for the gardening club,” she said.

“St Brigid’s College Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning and Horsham Apex helped with labour and Wimmera Primary Care Partnership, Wimmera Health Care Group and the other partners and individuals were involved in the original establishment of the Good Tucker, Good Health Project.”

The Victorian Schools Garden Award is in its 41st year and is designed to inspire school communities to develop, grow and celebrate their gardening achievements. The Weekly Advertiser and radio stations 3WM and MIXX FM are supporting Stevie’s trip to the awards presentation.