Schools
9 June, 2023
Harlin school receives grant for Kitchen-Garden program
Harlin State School was among 25 successful applicants Australia-wide to receive a $2,000 grant courtesy of the CRT Primary Schools Program.
Kathryn Whalley of Kilcoy Rural attended the Harlin school on Wednesday of last week to present a cheque.
This was the second year that CRT provided a gift of $2,000 to 25 Parents and Friends Associations (or equivalent) which support a rural or regional primary school in an area within a CRT store.
“This gift is intended to assist the work of these important volunteer organisations and recognise the part they play in supporting the success of the next generation in growing and learning,” Kathryn said.
This year’s program had about 175 applications as three judges reviewed and scored each application according to set criteria, with the three scores added up to determine the top 25 placegetters.
Harlin State School principal Joanne McCormick said the grant money would go towards a permaculture garden, worm farm, composting bin and tools, after the school’s garden and composting had been destroyed by drought several years ago.
Joanne said the permaculture garden would allow students to learn concepts from growing to cooking, and also enable them to appreciate and understand more about farming and the history of families in the area.
With an additional outdoor learning area grant of $25,000 to provide a preparation area for the produce from the garden, Joanne said “what a fantastic combination of grants to receive”.
“This could also be something the children aspire to,” she said.
“Farming is a critical component of our students’ lives.
“As greater technology allows for greater advancement in agricultural techniques, some of the students could be on the forefront of economy, land care and the next technological breakthrough.
“Our students can go on to high school where there’s a home economics program and be the next Master Chef, drawing a crowd from the city to one of our beautiful buildings in Toogoolawah or Linville.”
Joanne said Harlin students were also taught to conserve water, after two underground tanks were installed.
“We have also connected with Urban Utilities for an upcoming incursion, by First Nations storyteller Matt Robert,” she said.
“Students are ready to collect food scraps for the new worm farm and the compost tumbler, and alleviate the pressure on landfill.
“We are so grateful to CRT for the idea and look forward to quality tools to use in our gardening.”
For the record, the 25 successful applicants comprised five from Queensland, seven from New South Wales, eight from Victoria, two from South Australia, two from Western Australia and one from Tasmania.
The five Queensland schools were from Harlin, Goomeri, Bymount, Kalbar and Applethorpe.
