Preschool giving back to the community

Published on 18 December 2020

Leitchville residents are benefiting from the generosity of Leitchville Preschool’s children, with a community garden located at the Leitchville Preschool Play Centre uniting the town’s children with the community.

Developed during 2020, the garden is the newest edition to the play centre, which opened in 2019 following the incorporation of the former Leitchville Library building and new Maternal and Child Health facilities into a children’s hub.

“The community garden was part of the facility’s Quality Improvement Plan 2019 as a sustainability measure and connection with community being a high priority for our service,” Gannawarra Shire Council Chief Executive Officer, Tom O’Reilly said.

“Through consultation with kinder families, children and staff, we saw a need to give something back to the Leitchville community who give so much to the preschool.”

Developed in partnership between the Leitchville Pre-school Committee, past families and Council, fundraising efforts occurred to purchase materials, with the garden beds constructed during a working bee held earlier in the year.

“Council oversees the garden’s irrigation system, with the pre-school children tending to the garden on a weekly basis, weeding, sweeping, and replenishing the vegetables and herb seedlings,” Mr O’Reilly said.

The community garden is providing the pre-school’s children a hands-on education experience regarding where our food comes from.

“The children enjoy trying, touching and smelling new vegetables and herbs, as well as the sense of achievement as we plan what to plant, work in the garden and then reap the rewards of our work,” Leitchville Pre-school educator, Kim Mason said.

“The children can often be seen moving the gardening equipment to the front garden in small groups, with their gloves, spades, brooms and watering cans at the ready.”

The creation of the community garden coincides with the development of a paved area, featuring pavers with names of past and present children, families, educators and local businesses.

“We hope to add to our family paver section over the next few years and develop the garden further to include a compost system, insect hotel and sensory path for children to crawl and walk through to touch, smell and taste,” Ms Mason said.

ABOVE: Ellie Dye (left), Jasmine Keating, Willow Bolch and Bentleigh Stone with some of the produce grown in the Leitchville Pre-school Community Garden.