DONATION FOR ROTOTILLER DOES DOUBLE DUTY

MANS High School Vice Principal, Kim Harrington, who teaches the gardening class, tries out the new tractor and rototiller made possible by a surprise, well-timed donation. Russ Nielsen, who teaches Grade 5 and pioneered the garden at the school for some years before the classes were offered for credit, continues to assist the program. For some time, MANS students have looked forward to a big homemade (school-made) French fry lunch as part of the back-to-school tradition at MANS. As the garden expands, students enjoy an assortment of other veggies too!

A gift inspired by the March 2022 AAN story of an in-memory donation for MANS Gardening program has covered the cost of the new rototiller as the donors intended. But the extra bit Robert and Gigi Obradovic threw in for good measure when told the rototiller cost yielded a whole lot more: it enabled the purchase of a much-needed new tractor as well. The Obradovics recently moved to Lacombe from Nanaimo, where Gigi taught for 27 years at the Departure Bay Eco School, which incorporates gardening into its curriculum to great effect. Both Gigi, who grew up in Brazil, and Robert, who was expelled from school in Yugoslavia over Sabbath absences, struggled to get their educations and saw an opportunity to make a difference through MANS. The same day that Gigi delivered their donation to the Conference office, MANS’ much-used old tractor died. With a little work, Principal Mike Willing was able to sell the old tractor and with the additional donation money was able to purchase a new tractor as well as rototiller. Besides helping the garden program, the new tractor will also be put to use in the construction program and grounds upkeep, to name some of its uses. In the card Gigi enclosed with their donation were inspirational quotes for the MANS staff.

— N. Sowder

— Unknown

— Janet Kilburn Phillips