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Horticultural pleasures and gastronomic delights in WA
An Adopt a School program is reconnecting the generations in the Western Australian wheatbelt town of Beverley, an hour north-east of Perth.
Regional Industry Career Adviser Jess Joy teamed with the Local Community Partnership’s Teresa McGrechan after learning that an active relationship between the town’s aged care facility and its district high school had become moribund.
With keen support from the school principal and the aged care coordinator, a project was hatched to revitalise the facility’s garden, extending student skills and knowledge, and benefiting both resident health and community cohesion.
A feast for the skill-builders
A core of 15 students from years 8 to 10 have begun by devising a logo as a recognisable face for the project.
In Term 4, the plan is to develop metal fabrication skills through making aged-gardener-appropriate benches, construction skills through bricklaying and paving, and horticultural skills in rebuilding soil for planting and tending vegetables and herbs, in concert with the residents.
And best of all, they’ll prepare and consume a celebratory dinner with the residents when the garden bears fruit (or vegetables).
More design and construction skills will come into play when students decorate residents’ motorised four-wheelers—each class will be assigned a vehicle (or ‘gopher’), consult its owner and decorate it to reflect the owner’s interests.
This is your life
There’s another career development angle to the project as the project extends into 2008. Students will interview residents, learning about their lives and careers and transforming the information into a ‘This is your life’ history to present to the residents’ families.
‘It’s been great to see the enthusiasm from the kids, and the residents are really enjoying working with the students,’ Jess Joy says. ‘All parties are very excited about this new partnership.’
Contact
Jess Joy
Ph: 08 9622 6751