Latest News• Add My News • Search Old News Gippsland › Latest news › Latrobe Local NewsToongabbie Primary School wins Mayor’s Award in garden competitionToongabbie Primary School has won the prestigious Mayor’s Award in Latrobe City Council’s inaugural garden competition. The garden design and concept displayed initiative, inspiration and creativity, and gave the students the opportunity to learn valuable life skills.Latrobe City Council’s mayor, Councillor Kellie O’Callaghan, said that community pride was the other big winner. "We had more than 60 entries to the competition, across all categories, and it’s safe to say that the judges had a difficult time picking the winners. The standard was so high that it demonstrates not only how many keen green thumbs live in our community, but how much pride there is here too. "The Toongabbie Primary School garden not only showed us how to garden creatively but it showed us how to garden sustainably. The children learnt about planting, nurturing, watering and patience as the plants grew. They planted a variety of shrubs and flowers, fruits and vegetables and micro-herbs. And the young gardeners have now become young entrepreneurs by selling the micro-herbs to local business to provide an income stream for their gardening program," Cr O’Callaghan said. "It was this concept that really swayed the judges’ decision. But all entries were memorable in their own way. We had gardens on large rural plots that showed us how clever landscaping, use of colour, structure and garden furniture can add to design. We were awestruck at how creative planting can add space to small urban yards. We saw community gardening at its best, with groups of people connecting socially to enjoy the outdoors. We enjoyed native gardens that used indigenous plants. Gardens were beautiful or quirky, a riot of colour or elegantly understated, sustainable or classic cottage style; whatever their design, they were all a marker of how much time and effort our community put in," Cr O’Callaghan said. "I acknowledge the Mayor’s Encouragement Award presented to Simon and Carmen McInnes in Boolarra for displaying enthusiasm, eagerness to learn new techniques and gardening strategies, and clear improvements to the previous landscape. Also, the Mayor’s Sustainability Award presented to the Traralgon Railway Reservoir Conservation Reserve which demonstrated not only a beautiful garden setting but overall good environmental practices," Cr O’Callaghan said. The inaugural garden competition opened in August and judging took place in October. "Our sponsors donated generous prizes for the winners and runners up in each of the categories, and our judges donated their time to spend thoroughly assessing the gardens. "Congratulations go once again to Toongabbie Primary School, and to all the entrants in this year’s competition," Cr O’Callaghan concluded. For the full results visit www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/gardencomp. Media Enquiries: Media Relations Office Telephone: 5128 5458 Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: support@gippsland.com
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