A community garden, built in the aftermath of the Black Saturday bushfires, has been thrown a lifeline.
Whittlesea community garden grew out of the 2009 bushfires with funding from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal. It was designed to bring community together to heal and was set up next to Whittlesea community activity centre, a central gathering point in the days and weeks after the fires.
The garden has flourished under the care of its facilitator, Megan Southwick, who works at least 15 hours each week building partnerships with schools, nursing homes and individuals, and tending the garden.
Funding for her role was to end on June 30, but Whittlesea council has stepped in and offered the community house $9000, almost half the facilitator’s $18,200 salary, as a one-off grant.
Ms Southwick, a Whittlesea township resident had held the facilitator’s role for five years. She said it was “a big relief” it had been saved.
The garden engages diverse people in workshops and activities, such as sustainable gardening, arts and crafts, physical health and wellbeing and healthy eating.
Community house manager Mary-Lynn Griffith said the facilitator’s role would not have continued without the council’s help.
“We were a bit stuck. This shows just how important this project is,” Ms Griffith said.
She said the house’s management committee held a budget meeting on Thursday to find the remaining monies for the facilitator’s salary.
Details: communitygarden@whittleseach.com.au.
