Victorian Schools Garden Awards

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2015 Regional Award Results

November 9, 2015 By admin_ginger

After a month of viewing and judging all 125 Award entries,  the VSGA committee is happy to announce the Regional Award winners for 2015 .

 

2015 VSGA Regional Award Winners

Finalist schools have now been contacted and have to wait until the VSGA Presentation Ceremony on 26th November at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, to discover whether they have won a Category Award, State Award or the grand prize – Kevin Heinze Perpetual Award.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the schools who entered the Awards this year and encourage all those schools who were unsuccessful or who didn’t enter this year to start thinking about 2016.

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: News

2015 Award Entries Closed

October 7, 2015 By admin_ginger

On 4th September, two weeks before the end of Term 3, the Victorian Schools Garden Award entries for 2015 closed.

This year saw another increase in entries, with 125 received from schools across Victoria.

Judging of the Awards has begun, the VSGA committee are extremely impressed with the entries submitted and the effort schools are putting into their gardens.  It is clear that schools take their outdoor environment very seriously and see the benefits of integrating outdoor learning into their curriculums not only for student learning but also health and well being.

Regional Award winners will be announced around the end of October with all other categories including the Turf Victoria, Flemings Mini Orchard, State and the Kevin Heinze Perpetual Award being announced at the VSGA Presentation Day held at the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens on Thursday 26th November 2015.

Filed Under: News, Uncategorized

2015 VSGA Grant Application Results

May 20, 2015 By admin_ginger

This year’s VSGA grant applications closed on Friday 24th April. The VSGA received an amazing 230 entries from schools vying for 1 of the 8 grant categories available. As with last year’s entries, the judges were impressed with the quality of applications submitted and the amazing gardening projects proposed. Some categories proved to be more popular than others with edible garden and maintenance grants being highly sort after. It was extremely difficult selecting the successful recipients.

From the increase in grants submitted this year, it is clear school gardens are fast becoming seen as an important part of schools infrastructure, not only for appearance purposes but as outdoor classrooms. Once a place for  playing, school gardens now play a crucial role in hands on learning.

Whether successful or not, we hope all school garden projects will come to life and outdoor classrooms and classes continue to grow in all schools.  Please press here for the 2015 VSGA Grant Results.

Filed Under: News

‘Teachers Involved in Gardens’ workshop at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show

May 6, 2015 By admin_ginger

Minister launch at MIFGS

On Friday 27th March, the last day of Term 1, 30 teachers attended a VSGA ‘Teachers Involved in Gardens’ professional development workshop at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.

Prior to the workshop, teachers participated in the 2015 VSGA program launch by Deputy Premier and Education Minister the Hon. James Merlino. It was promising to hear Minister Merlino recognise the value and importance of school gardens in education. The VSGA is grateful for the government’s continued support of our program which shows that gardening and environmental practice can significantly contribute to a student’s educational journey.

The workshop itself began with Bill Thomas, Head of Sustainability at Bentleigh Secondary College (BSC), sharing his journey and successes at reducing the schools impact on the environment. One example shared was their construction of a wetland area on school grounds to capture the excess storm-water that couldn’t be harvested by the tanks. This water is treated and channelled to a sub-surface irrigation system that irrigates one of their playing fields. The wetland also improves the sites biodiversity providing valuable habitat for flora and fauna. Bill encouraged teachers to approach businesses for help with any projects.

Fabian Capomolla, our next presenter, co-founded The Little Vegie Patch Co. a nursery which focuses on helping people set up their own veggie patch and all things edible. Having assisted many families, businesses and schools set up gardens, Fab shared his three elements to setting up a garden – Location – Soil – Plants. One suggestion on how to save money was to plant straight into the ground, “garden beds don’t have to be raised”. With limited funds for gardens, Fab suggested growing directly in the ground and use money saved on vegetation. Fab also shared ideas for raising funds for school gardens – grants – ask local businesses – fund raising. Having been a nursery owner, Fab recommends asking local nurseries for old stock which they are often happy to get rid of.

The terrarium building segment was led by the BSC’s “Green Machine” student representatives, who taught the teachers in a role reverse the finer details on how to make a terrarium in a 2 litre drink bottle. Once shown by the students, the teachers got to get their hands dirty and build their own terrarium.MIFGS PDW

After the workshop teachers were free to explore the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show to pick up more handy and helpful tips and ideas from exhibitors and garden displays. Hopefully all attendees returned to school in term 2 full of fresh ideas and motivation.

The VSGA would like to thank Paradisia who kindly donated all the plants for our terrariums, Fiskars who donated the trowels for the teachers to use and keep as a gift and VISY who provided us with damaged bottles to use for our workshop. (Please press on the highlighted company names to be taken to their websites and support them in return for any gardening needs).

Also a big thank you to the BSC’s Green Machine students, Bill Thomas, Fabian Capomolla and Basil Natoli for sharing your time, gardening expertise and inspiring us to continue with our garden journeys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: News

Aspendale school wins top prize

December 1, 2014 By VSGA

1669978_373759192804178_4404097259540302113_oSt.Louis de Montforts Catholic Primary School in Aspendale was named as the 2014 recipient of the prestigious Kevin Heinze Perpetual Award for school garden excellence.

In addition to the considerable prestige, this award carries a prize value of $3000 which will no doubt be directed towards furthering the magnificent school garden program at St.Louis de Montforts.

Over 440 school children were witness to the Awards presentation at Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens, representing schools from all over Victoria who had successfully navigated through regional rounds of judging in the various categories.

Other major prizes presented were:
• Turf Victoria Award – Rowville Primary School
• Flemings Nurseries Mini Orchard Award – Clonard College
• State Awards
Strathewen Primary School
Huntly Primary School
Bentleigh West Primary School
Aitken College

• Plants Plus – Most habitat-friendly garden winners
Our Lady of Christians School
Frankston Special Development School
Glen Katherine Primary School
St.Michaels Grammar School

• Plants Plus – Most creative new garden using recycled materials
Nepean Primary School
Tooradin Primary School
Coatesville Primary School
Carrum Downs Secondary College

• Catholic Education Office – Most engaging student garden for teaching and play
Tawonga Primary School
Mildura Specialist School
The Patch Primary School
Cathedral College Wangaratta

• Maxicrop – Best Edible Garden
Toolangi Primary School
Tyabb Railway Station Primary School
Clayton North Primary School
Murrayville Community College

• Plants Plus – Most creative use of the school garden as a demonstration site for sustainable gardening in the community
Wooragee Primary School
Yarra Primary School
Templestowe Valley Primary School
Oxley Christian College

Judging was based upon student involvement, parental, teacher and community involvement, general appearance and use, special features, new developments and grounds facilities.
The total prize pool allocated to winners in the various categories was approx. $40 000.

Filed Under: News

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Tania Karamitos
Program Co-ordinator
Victorian Schools Garden Awards
Phone: 03 9576 0599
Fax: 03 9576 0431
Email: vsga@ngiv.com.au
 

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