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PICAL volunteers honoured at Blue Gum Reserve for work in Community Garden and aiding Phillip Island food pantry

Blue Gum Reserve hosted an event honouring PICAL volunteers for their role in the Community Garden, aiding the food pantry. This collaborative effort received support from various organisations, fostering a thriving community space.

By news@gippsland - 12th December 2023 - Back to News

This week the sun shone brightly as we held an afternoon tea at Blue Gum Reserve on Phillip Island to celebrate and recognise Phillip Island Community & Learning Centre (PICAL) volunteers and stakeholders for their contributions to the Community Garden project. The produce from this community garden contributes to the PICAL food pantry which supports those in need on the Island. This is a perfect example of community collaboration in creating thriving and beautiful productive gardens that can benefit individuals and families.

PICAL is a registered not-for-profit Community Centre and Learn Local organisation, also aids hardship via food relief, offers welfare referrals, employment services, and nurtures a community garden for learning and sharing

Community project support

This project has been supported by Bass Coast Shire Council, Phillip Island RSL and Parks Victoria who funded the jetty timbers which feature on the front fence. Further support has been provided by Blue Gum Garden Centre, Bunnings, Mitre 10 and the Victorian Housing Building Association.

A special thanks goes to all the wonderful PICAL volunteers, particularly for their efforts since the garden's main infrastructure was completed in June 2023. Guests enjoyed a garden tour which was led by dedicated volunteers and also got to take home fresh herbs from the garden in gorgeous recycled and repurposed tea cups aligning with the ethos of the centre.

Community support hub

PICAL is a registered not-for-profit Community Centre and Learn Local organisation providing a wide range of community services and learning opportunities to support the needs of our community. PICAL believes in building a strong, safe and vibrant community that facilitates social inclusion and values diversity.

​PICAL provides a vital service to those experiencing hardship through their emergency food relief program. Support is also offered through welfare service referrals, employment services and a Centrelink agency.

PICAL manages the community garden and supplies fresh produce to a pantry with many opportunities for horticulture training, organic vegetable and fruit growing workshops, and local food swaps. For further information please visit Community Centre | PICAL | Cowes website.

Pictures from Bass Coast Shire Council website.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com