Kitchen Garden Program continues to grow Education Minister Bronwyn Pike launched Kitchen Garden Week 2009 to celebrate kitchen gardens in schools which supports Victorian Education Week in May.

The Kitchen Garden Program is aimed to teach primary school children how to grow, harvest, prepare and share fresh, seasonal food at school that was founded by Stephanie Alexander in 2001. Many of the Kitchen Garden Schools across Victoria will welcome visitors
to their beautiful edible gardens and home-style kitchens during Kitchen Garden Week.

Project Runaway – Action!

Foxtel’s ‘Project Runway’ fashion reality series arrived at Harbour Town in May as twelve of Australia’s hottest and up and coming fashion designers went head to head to confirm their title as Australia’s next big name in fashion. Hosted by Australian supermodel Kristy Hinze, the majority of the day challenges were filmed at the Whitehouse Institute of Design and filming continued around various locations around the Docklands precinct. Contestants stayed at Harbourtown in the ‘Watermark’.

Parks Victoria Thanks Volunteers

Parks Victoria highlighted the great contribution of its friends and volunteer groups during National Volunteer Week held in May. Across Victoria there are over 250 volunteer groups giving almost 200,000 hours of their time annually to Victorian parks, reserves, marine sanctuaries and bushland.

Community share $150,000 in grants

222 clubs, societies and other not-for-profit organisations will share in $150,000 of Community Connection grants announced by the Telstra Foundation. The grants recognise Telstra employees’ involvement and leadership in community organisations, by supporting the groups where they volunteer. Telstra Foundation launched the $460,000 Community Connection fund in 2008 and grants range from $250 to $1,000.

BIA wins at Victorian Coastal Awards

The Boating Industry Association of Victoria (BIA) won the Education award at the 10th Victorian Coastal Awards for Excellence. The award, for environmental education initiatives in coastal areas, was won for the Marine Pest Project undertaken by Project Manager Karen Bennet over the past 18 months. BIA Victoria was one of six finalists for the award that was presented by Victorian Minister for Environment and Climate Change Gavin Jennings at the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron in St Kilda.