Kitchen with heart hits milestone

By Tina Seirlis

A local school is gearing up for a heart-warming anniversary celebration, 15 years in the making, with plans to honour its highly valued Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program on Thursday 2 November.

Bacchus Marsh Primary School (BMPS), one of the longest running in the state, originally applied for the program 17 years ago and were initially unsuccessful. From here, the story as it is told, is one of perseverance, initiative, collaboration, community, and a touch of celebrity.

Sources at the school shared that the school’s Principal at the time, Ian Wren, alongside long-term team member Leanne Fitzsimons (current Assistant Principal) were not deterred and sought the support of the community and parents to help bring to fruition the original kitchen which had just one sink and stove, along with garden beds built and painted by parents.

Mr Wren then approached prominent Australian garden designer Paul Bangay who generously donated the designs for the front kitchen garden, along with $5000 per year over five years.

Current Kitchen Garden Teacher Ms Kym Raft said there was huge community involvement, building wonderful school morale and giving the community something to be very proud of. “Two years later the school again applied for funding and it was approved. Stephanie Alexander came to the opening and donated and promoted one of her new cookbooks,” she said.

The Program, which aligns with the school’s values of respect, teamwork, learning and kindness, is said to provide students with valuable life skills, along with a deep understanding of food and the environment, fostering a sense of community and responsibility.

Ms Raft said the program continues to flourish, and due to the need for more space, the school’s original Jennifer Hine Art Room later evolved to become the current kitchen space featuring five sinks and four ovens.

“Today’s students at BMPS have the opportunity to engage with the kitchen and garden, with the program also supported by approximately 35 volunteers,” she said.
“Our students work in groups with volunteers to complete a recipe and also work in the garden our ‘garden guru’, Julie.

“Volunteers are made up of parents or grandparents of students and some who just love to cook, they work with the children and make a difference.

The 15th anniversary festivities will include a special afternoon tea for volunteers, along with students creating origami seed packets to take home and plant, from seeds harvested on the school grounds. The celebration will conclude with a whole of school picnic with lemon cakes from lemons grown on-site.
Stephanie Alexander and/or a Program representative have also been invited.

Anyone who would like to donate plants or bulbs for the garden, or is interested in volunteering can reach out to Ms Raft via [email protected]