I don’t think there would be too many students who could say that they have planted traditional bush tucker at their school in the hope of being able to eat it. Arbor Grove Primary has recently accepted the PALS (Partnership, Acceptance, Learning and Sharing) Education Award for 2010 for their ‘bush tucker garden’.

Many schools participated in this year’s programs with categories including Education, Sustainable Partnerships, Health, Community Development and Arts and Culture. Those who won awards demonstrated the positive impact of the project in the values and relationships that exist within their community.

It provides an opportunity for schools to take part in various projects that promote interaction between Indigenous and non-Indigenous members in the school and community. The purpose for the project was based on developing a long term commitment to Indigenous heritage, culture and to involve indigenous parents in the school community.

Union member Shayne Harris, a new Principal to the school, thinks the garden will be a great asset to the school community. “Apart from the fact that environmental sustainability is very important for all kids to learn about, for…[our school] it’s the specific indigenous food that makes it a link to their past to the present. From my point of view I’ve worked in Aboriginal remote communities and done gardens with kids myself so it was never a really hard sell for me when a teacher comes up with an idea like this…and this is outside what we deem standard teaching and learning across the school…”

Parents came along to assist in prepping the area and the garden now has Quandong Trees, four garden beds and roughly 10 different types of species in the garden. ‘Bush Tucker’ students have spent time researching which plants to grow, taking photos to track their progress and transformations, studying photography, insect life, plant conditions, gardening and cooperative skills.

Educators play a key role in the success of the PALS program. Through their role, students are immersed in indigenous culture and history. As for Pam Foreman’s class, she was able to provide her students with a ‘hands on’ approach to aboriginal education and culture using the garden.

Shayne recognised the benefits of the program for both the school and the community. “Anything that connects a multicultural society, anything that we can do to endorse, respect or respond to another culture in our school, that’s our job.” “We have a pretty significant Indigenous population; we have about 28 students out of our 650, so we have an AIEO that interacts with them, their families and our teachers,” he said.

“…In terms of a school being acknowledged anywhere for the work of a teacher and… students, I’m quite happy to win an award for sure. But it’s not really about me, it’s more about the school’s culture and we are still a young school so those things start to add value to the community over a period of time…to me it just adds value to the culture we are trying to create,” said Shayne.

Pictures