Garden of lifelong learning

By Tina Seirlis

Sunshine, teacakes, volunteers, and notable community leaders were out in force at a local primary school celebration last week.

Featuring an abundance of gratitude and familiar faces, Bacchus Marsh Primary School (BMPS) held back-to-back events for volunteers and students on Thursday 2 November to recognise the 15 year anniversary of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program.

Dozens of existing and past program volunteers, including many students’ parents and grandparents, also known as ‘treasures’ were professionally greeted on arrival at the event by courteous and confident grade five and six Kitchen & Garden Captains.

Volunteers were treated by their hosts to an afternoon tea featuring a magnificent passionfruit sponge, lemon slice, quiches, scones and cream, and many other savoury and sweet high tea treats, similar to those served on tiers at city venues.

Blue skies were the icing on the cake for a wonderful afternoon commemorating a program that takes students on a journey from hand to soil, through to preparation of the foods they have sown and harvested.

A highlight of the day, in addition to the anniversary, was without doubt the attendance of former school principal Tom Hill, accompanied by his wife and local writer Zoe. Mr Hill led the school from 1981 through to 1986, sharing that he originally came on board as a classroom teacher in 1966.

“It was the same year decimal currency was introduced,” Mr Hill said.

He remained a classroom teacher until 1972, and whilst continuing to call Bacchus Marsh home, undertook other teaching roles at nearby schools in the west, eventually returning to BMPS to take up the role of Principal in 1981.

Mr Hill learned of the Kitchen Garden celebration with thanks to the earlier article published by The Moorabool News. He then generously reached out to offer tomato plants for the garden resulting in the much-welcomed reconnection with the school.

Following on from the volunteer afternoon tea, students were later treated to a whole school picnic featuring a wealth of summer sun and hundreds of slices of celebratory sponge cake made on-site. A fitting end to a heartwarming occasion.