Schools across Tweed Shire praised for gardening efforts

The students at Murwillumbah South Infants Public School are excited about an upcoming ‘schoolyard blitz’ after winning the inaugural ‘Grow your own Garden’ prize at the 18th annual 2009 Tweed Shire Schools Garden Competition.

The school’s garden will receive a makeover, with sponsor Bunnings providing all the plants, mulch and labour needed to establish a new herb and vegetable garden for the school.

Murwillumbah East Public School students are equally thrilled that all their hard work in their garden paid off after taking out the John O’Reilly Memorial ‘Judges’ choice’ perpetual trophy. The school also won the Best Large School Garden category and were placed second in the Schools Garden Project.

The judges were Brad Moore from Council’s Recreation Services Unit and John McIntosh and Mike Toby from Bunnings South Tweed. The trio spent three days touring the gardens of the 22 pre-schools, primary and high schools which entered the competition.

“The standard was fantastic overall and it was great to see so many students and their teachers putting such a big effort into improving their school’s outdoor environment,” Mr Toby said.

“But the number one thing for us, without a doubt, was seeing the kids’ faces and the joy they got from their gardens.”

Special mention was made of the efforts at Tweed Valley College in Murwillumbah, which won the Best School Garden Project Category.
“This project was fantastic with a high level of student involvement,” Mr Toby said.

Judging criteria included student participation, sustainability, cost effectiveness, appearance and originality. There will be an extra category next year, the Sustainable Garden.

Tweed Shire Council and Bunnings jointly funded the $1220 in prizes on offer in this year’s awards.

The winners were:
Best Large School Garden
1st Murwillumbah East Public School
2nd Bogangar Public School
3rd Tweed Heads Public School
Best Small School Garden
1st Tumbulgum Public School
2nd Condong Public School
3rd Crabbes Creek Public School
Best School Garden Project
1st Tweed Valley College
2nd Murwillumbah East Public School
3rd Condong Public School
The John O’Reilly Memorial Schools Award “Judges Choice”
Murwillumbah East Public School
Encouragement Awards:
Murwillumbah South Infants (Grown your own Garden award)
Kingscliff High School
Other Entrants were:
Duranbah Public
Pottsville Beach Public School
Mt Warning Community Pre School
Murwillumbah Public School
Banora Point Primary School
St James Primary
Banora Point High School
Possums Community Pre School
Wallum Community Pre School
Fingal Head Public School
Crystal Creek Public
Tyalgum Public School
Sathya Sai Primary School

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1. North Coast schools to show their green credentials
2. More than $49 million for infrastructure for 44 local primary schools
3. Schools get $2.05 million in funding
4. North Coast primary schools urged to join food garden plan
5. Page electorate schools get computer funding

Related Articles:

Related posts:

1. North Coast schools to show their green credentials
2. More than $49 million for infrastructure for 44 local primary schools
3. Schools get $2.05 million in funding
4. North Coast primary schools urged to join food garden plan
5. Page electorate schools get computer funding