Life skills learned as Garden grows

ACTION has started at Golden Plains’ own MCG; the Meredith Community Garden, beside the town’s Interpretive Centre.

Set to be full of garden beds, flowers, fruits and vegetables, which the community can grow and enjoy together, it is being developed by local charity, Hands of Change with Meredith Primary School’s senior students.

The project is part of the Nurturing Young Minds for Their Future program, aiming to teach the children life skills including problem solving, budgeting and teamwork.

Hands of Change director Chris Ardrey said the students originally began planning the space during their online, remote learning in September.

They are even more excited about the initiative now they’re working face-to-face, stepping on-site to measure the land, and design the garden together.

“They’ve been really engaged with the whole process and are looking forward to building something they can leave for the community,” he said.

Classroom teacher Fairlie Pritchard said the Community Garden is a legacy for the grade 6 students to leave, something for the grade 5 to continue with next year, and a project for the current grade 4 to pick up.

“It has allowed their creativity to shine,” she said.

“They’ve problem solved and gained life skills in a different way; they’ve learned how to ring people and talk properly on the phone, ask for things, get quotes.

“It’s a tangible, practical project that they can see and feel. It’s real-life learning that shows anything is possible when you work hard towards something.”

Twelve-year-old Madelyn, a grade 6 leader, can’t wait to see it finished.

“I’m looking forward to coming here to see the garden growing, with veggies, flowers and fruit trees,” she said.

“We don’t have much community stuff, so this is something new we can all do together in Meredith.”

The Garden launch will take place on Monday, 14 December at 1pm, with a two-hour celebration including a sausage sizzle, guest speakers and live music. RSVP to [email protected].