By Gabrielle Costa
IT’S happened to most of us at one time or another: We’re half-way to school or work and realise – when it’s too late – that we’ve left our lunch on the kitchen bench.
That might be less of a problem for students at Footscray West Primary School.
They’ve been cultivating a bush tucker garden for almost a year, and they’re savouring the fruits, roots and vegies of their labours.
Now, an exhibition of their art work, all in recognition of Australia’s native bounties, will be on display at the West Footscray Neighbourhood House at 539 Barkly St.
Murals, paintings and dioramas are among the items that have been put together by students from the school.
Helen Rodd, vice-chair of the West Footscray Neighbourhood House and Footscray West Primary parent, said the bush tucker garden had been a great success, providing students, and their families, with an abundance of information about Australian species – not to mention a veritable buffet of tantalising flavours.
“We know so much about kinds of fruit and vegies from other parts of the world but we don’t know much about what’s in our own backyard,” Ms Rodd said.
Finger limes, warragul greens, intensely sweet wild raspberries, daisy yams and dianella flax are just some of the incredible edibles grown on the school’s Argyle St campus.
The bush tucker garden was created with the involvement of a range of groups, led by parents’ group Connector Bugs, and included representatives of the local Koori community.
Maribyrnong councillor Catherine Cumming said some of the art work would be on display in the bush tucker garden itself, providing “a visual display that’s both enticing and educational”.
“It would also complement the natural atmosphere created by the garden planter boxes and native wooden seats,” Cr Cumming said.
