Kallista goes on show

By Casey Neill
KALLISTA Primary School’s oval doubled as a helipad last Friday.
A chopper carrying Victorian Schools’ Garden Awards judges touched down just before 9am.
The school took out the competition’s $300 Eastern Metropolitan Region award earlier this year.
Judges selected 36 regional finalists from 200 Victorian entries.
The school will now battle it out for one of four $1000 state awards.
The visit was somewhat of a homecoming for awards judging coordinator Paul Crowe, who once attended the school.
“This oval is where I learned to run and used to kick a footy,” he said.
Judges include Gardening Australia’s Jane Edmanson, Mr Crowe, administrative coordinator Debbie Daks and awards committee member Wendy Griffiths.
“Judging is not based on the most aesthetic school ground but rather on improvements made to the school environment through the active involvement of students, teachers and the school community,” Mr Crowe said.
Students took Mr Crowe, Education Department general manager Peter Stewart, Catholic Education Office’s Stuart Robertson and Debbie Daks on a tour of the grounds.
Compost, a worm farm and water tank help keep the plants healthy.
Garden specialist Jennie Hoogland said caring for the gardens gave students a sense of community and confidence.
The Victorian Schools’ Garden Awards are now in their 31st year.
This year the Kevin Heinze Perpetual Award will be introduced to honour the former gardening guru, who founded the awards in 1978.
Total prize money will top $35,000.
Education Minister Bronwyn Pike and Ms Edmanson will announce the winners and present prizes at Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens on 4 December.