On Sunday, 20th May, Traralgon Adventist Church launched their very first community garden!
Members from Traralgon Adventist Church and Moe joined with community and council members – Deputy Lord Mayor Dan Clancey and Member for Morwell – Russell Northe to open the new garden. Thank you to Gavin Chatelier for your inspiring music and for making everyone feel so welcome.
The Traralgon Seventh-day Adventist church building is placed in the lower-socio economic part of town. The closest school, Liddiard Road Primary School provides breakfast for its students 4 days a week because children come to school hungry, with church members volunteering for the program. They wanted, however, to do more for their community and a garden gets you outdoors and working together builds friendships.
In April, Foodbank released its first ever research report on child hunger in Australia, entitled
Rumbling Tummies. The report exposed the shocking statistic that 1 in 5 children are living in food insecure households, and that a child is more likely to go hungry than an adult in Australia today. This community garden will strive to address these issues. It will be a socially inclusive space, where all people will feel welcomed and supported. The garden will help to build community and intergenerational connection, provide a learning environment, promote creativity and art and provide much needed fresh produce to support people in need.
Our vision is to “Grow people and community through growing plants, connecting with others and working together on common ground.”