By YASEMIN TALAT
THE MELTON Men’s Shed has lent a helping hand to assist the students at Sydenham Hillside Primary School complete their garden.
Students at the school have been planting and growing fruit and vegetables in the garden as part of the school’s garden program.
But as their fruit and veggies grew, birds flocked to eat the produce before the students could.
Integration Aide and member of the school’s Environment Committee Cheryl Kerr approached the Men’s Shed to help with the problem by building a scarecrow.
So the “sheddies”, as the students refer to them, Gill Ellis, Allan Benson, Max Chester, and Tony Homburg created and donated Max the scarecrow to the school.
The scarecrow was delivered to the school last week with the final touches of clothes and character added by teachers to finish it off.
“The students were so excited, the smiles on their faces were priceless,” Ms Kerr said.
Ms Kerr said the students were dedicated and proud of their garden and were devastated when vandals destroyed it and stole most of its contents including plants, a bridge and a statue last school holidays.
“The garden is really important because it’s good for their learning, especially about the habitat and healthy eating,” Ms Kerr said.
“And it’s really good for their social interactions, they develop friendships in the garden groups, because they’re talking about different things and they’re working side by side in the dirt,” she said.
To help the school’s garden program call 9361 5400 for further information.
