School gardens show off best in region THE 2016 Chronicle Schools garden competition was an outstanding success this year, and every one of the 23 school entries should be congratulated on their participation, and in particular, for their enthusiasm towards this wonderful regional event. Every school, whether a first time entrant, or back in the competition for the ‘umpteenth’ time, should be extremely proud of their students, teachers, parents and grounds staff — in essence everyone who took the time to work on getting these gardens up to what was a very high horticultural standard. There is no doubt that one of the major benefits of having school children involved in gardening is the development of not only their appreciation of the natural world and all its processes and interactions, but most importantly their attitude towards caring for, and nurturing, all living things. What is learnt at these early ages is carried through for life. Thank you to each and every student, teacher, and school gardener for showing me your wonderful veggie beds, chook houses, native bees, worm farms, tyre planters, flower beds, hedges, majestic oaks, scarecrows, totems, indigenous gardens, yarning circles, fruit trees, minions, peace gardens and pineapples, to name a few highlights of my three days of judging. But most importantly, thank you for showing that the love of gardening is alive and thriving in the Toowoomba Region — congratulations! — Mike Wells, The Chronicle Garden Competition Schools category judge and qualified horticulturalist
● Encouragement Award: Tree
City School Garden 1. Newtown State School
TEAMWORK: City School Garden winners Newtown State School, with students (from left) Meagan, Kyle and Kylah and principal Tania Angus admiring the floral display.
Frogs Group — St Joseph's College
2. Toowoomba North State School 3. Mothercraft Childcare Centre
Country School Garden
● Highly Commended: Concordia
1. Bunkers Hill State School
Lutheran College — Concordia
2. Wyreema State School
Primary Campus
3. Gowrie State School
‘
Photo: Kevin Farmer/The Chronicle
Gardening is really fun because sometimes we water them and if they’re veggies, we get to pick them.
● Highly Commended: Geham City School Students Garden 1. Darling Downs Christian School 2. Rangeville State School
,
— Riley Warrener, Bunkers Hill student
State School ● Highly Commended: St Stephen's Catholic School
3. Toowoomba State High School — Wilsonton Campus ● Highly Commended: Rockville State School ● Highly Commended: Concordia Lutheran College — Concordia Primary Campus ● Encouragement Award: Mater Dei Primary School
Country Schools Students Garden 1. Bunkers Hill State School 2. Vale View State School 3. Geham State School ● Highly Commended: Cambooya State School ● Highly Commended: Cecil Plains State School
WORKING HARD: Bunkers Hill State School students (from left) Tahnee Madden, Makenna Coombs, Xavier Smith and Riley Warrener in the garden in The Chronicle Garden Competition Photo: Kevin Farmer/The Chronicle 2016.
Entry to the Slab Cottage Garden during Carnival Week is by Gold Coin Donation, Billy Tea & Damper $5 each
Open 10am to 4pm Daily
www.highfieldspioneervillage.com.au | Ph: (07) 4696 6309 – 73 Wirraglen Rd, Highfields 2 4 \ \ F R I D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 1 6, 2 0 1 6
6134472aa
‘Griinke Slab Cottage’
Entrant in the ABC and Non-Profit Carnival Garden Competition