On Wednesday 2nd December VSGP held our 43rd annual Victorian Schools Garden Awards Ceremony, but our first virtual ceremony. VSGP advocates Costa Georgiadis and Jane Edmanson did a fantastic job of bringing the event to life for the many children and teachers in attendance.

Ordinarily the Awards Presentation Ceremony is held at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. The ceremony is a chance to celebrate and recognise the amazing achievements of students and communities in their school gardens and announce this year’s Victorian Schools Garden Awards winners.

Minister for Education, James Merlino, also made a guest appearance to talk about the importance of gardening, outdoor learning environments and the Victorian Schools Garden Awards.

“Congratulations to the many green thumbs across this great Education State who continue to work hard to make their school’s garden come to life with pops of colour, thriving plants and edible produce.”

“Sharing the importance of sustainable living and fostering a love of gardening is vital to ensuring that the next generation takes a hands-on approach to caring for the environment.” Said Minister Merlino.

There was a lot of excitement from the entrants as the winners were announced. The Awards Program has 10 different categories for schools to enter and $44,000 worth of nursery vouchers and garden products available to be won.

And the winners were;

Most Engaging for Play Award winners are:

• Hoppers Crossing Montessori Center
• Pomonal Primary School
• St. Anne’s School, Sunbury
• Little Yarra Steiner School

Maxicrop – Best Edible Garden Award winners:

• Diamond Creek Primary School
• Delacombe Primary School
• Oxley Christian College, Chirnside Park

Catholic Education Melbourne – Most Engaging Student Garden for Wellbeing Learning winners:

• Barwon Valley School, Belmont
• St Mark’s Primary School, Dingley
• Parade College, Bundoora

Independent Schools Victoria – Greatest Demonstrated Improvement of School’s Green Space Award winners:

• Our Lady of Fatima Primary School, Rosebud
• Aberfeldie Primary School
• Point Cook P-9 College

Nursery & Garden Industry Victoria – Best School Garden Exhibiting Biodiversity Award winners:

• The Patch Primary School
• Surfside Primary School, Ocean Grove

Turf Victoria Award winner:

• Rosewood Downs Primary School, Dandenong North

Australian Growing Solutions Award winner:

• Rowville Primary School

Fleming’s Nurseries Award winner:

• Footscray High School

RB Landscape Award winner:

• Catholic Regional College, St. Albans

State Award winner (Primary and Special Schools with less than 280 pupils)

• Wandin Yallock Primary School

State Award winner (Primary and Special Schools with over 280 pupils)

• Our Lady Star of the Sea Primary School, Ocean Grove

State Award winner (Prep -9, Prep-12 and all Secondary Colleges)

• Little Yarra Steiner School

The grand prize, the Kevin Heinze Perpetual Award, chosen from the three state winners, receiving an additional voucher for $1500 and the Perpetual shield was

• Our Lady Star of the Sea Primary School, Ocean Grove

At Star of the Sea Primary School, sustainability and caring for the earth is paramount and included in all areas of the of thecurriculum along with encouraging their student voice and advocacy through their everyday actions at school.

They embrace outdoor education options and are using their many gardens in fun, collaborative and practical ways to enrich their curriculum and for students to explore through nature play.

We would like to thank all the innovative principals, teachers and parents who give students the ability to learn in their school gardens and for entering the awards. Keep on growing, enjoy your time in the garden, be passionate and proud about your success.

We look forward to delivering the 44th annual Victorian Schools Garden Awards Ceremony in person at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

VSGP are grateful for the continued support of the Victorian Government, Department of Education and Training, and our sponsors.

Click here to watch the 2020 VSGA Virtual Presentation Ceremony

The Victorian Schools Garden Program (VSGP) continues to go from strength to strength. After receiving a record number of Grant entries earlier in the year, we have now created another record, receiving 122 entries from 78 schools for the Awards Program.

Judging has begun and the results will be announced in a virtual ceremony on Wednesday 2nd December, with VSGP advocates Costa Georgiadis and Jane Edmanson hosting the event.

The high volume of entries this year is another sign that schools are seeking out the benefits of gardening and gardens for their students learning and wellbeing.

A big thank you to all our sponsors for their ongoing support.

Given the extraordinary circumstances we have faced this year, the VSGP committee has decided to extend the closing date for the Awards to Friday 9th October.

We acknowledge that students have not attended school for the last two terms due to COVID-19 and appreciate that gardens may not be at their usual standard, but still encourage schools to enter.

The Awards Program has 10 different categories for schools to enter and $44,000 worth of nursery vouchers and garden products available to be won.

For more information, please visit the VSGP website.

This year the VSGP were thrilled to receive record breaking grant applications; with over 450 entries from 265 schools across the state. Like many others in these difficult times, schools are realising the important role that gardening and school gardens have to offer their students and are wanting to implement garden projects in their school yards.

Choosing the successful applicants with so many high-quality entries and stunning garden projects, was not an easy task. Due to the volume and quality of applications received, the VSGP Advisory Committee decided to reward an additional 20 schools with high scores yet still missed out, a Merit Grant to the value of $250.

59 successful schools will now be able to under their proposed garden project while another 20 Merit grant will be able to contribute funds to their school garden or garden program.

Click here to see the 2020 Grant Recipients