Victorian Schools Garden Program

Every school a garden, every garden a classroom.

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48th Annual VSGP Awards Celebration

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Today, in the Oak Lawns at the Royal Botanic Gardens, more than 451 students, teachers and parents from 35 Victorian schools, gathered to celebrate school gardening achievements and share the joy of learning through gardens.

The top prize, the Kevin Heinze Perpetual Award went to Montmorency South Primary School, where all 615 students help create and care for gardens spanning a productive, orchard-and-chooks – kitchen garden, bush tucker, native and pollinator plantings, and a bush reserve restoring habitat for local sugar gliders. Students lead the full gardening cycle, with produce feeding into their kitchen garden program and learning from all gardens embedded across the curriculum.

Kevin Heinze Perpetual Award receipts - Montmorency South PS 1
From left:  Emma Katsalidis – teacher & garden guru, Nina Taylor – Parliamentary Secretary of Education, Paul Crowe OAM – VSGP Co-founder and Patron, and Montmorency South Primary School students. 

In a very close second, State Award finalist Wendouree Primary School was recognised for outstanding, student-driven biodiversity work on its Ballarat grounds, including the planting of more than 1,200 native trees, shrubs and grasses and the creation of rich habitat spaces such as wetlands, frog bogs, nature trails and bush tucker gardens. Their work also supports other schools through shared resources and expertise. Third place State Award finalist, Collingwood College, was celebrated for its long-running kitchen garden program, now in its 24th year, continuing to build student leadership, wellbeing and strong curriculum links in a diverse inner-city community.

Nina Taylor – Parliamentary Secretary of Education with State Finalist, Wendouree Primary School students. 
Nina Taylor – Parliamentary Secretary of Education with State Finalist, Collingwood College.

The VSGP is proud of every school that entered this year’s Awards and encouraged by the growing recognition of gardens as powerful spaces for learning, health and wellbeing. We invite all schools in 2026 to consider starting or expanding a garden project: even the smallest patch can make a big difference.

Finally, the VSGP sincerely thanks our 2025 sponsors for their generous support, helping inspire the next generation of gardeners and enabling schools to grow, learn and thrive through their garden programs.

Click here to see 2025 VSGP Award Results

Principals’ Breakfast at Kuranga Native Nursery

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It was a beautiful morning in picturesque Mount Evelyn as school leaders gathered at Kuranga Native Nursery for this year’s Principals’ Breakfast.

The nursery and surrounding gardens set the perfect scene to share ideas about: 

  • Creating real-world learning outcomes in garden program
  • Using gardens to help students from all backgrounds connect and collaborate
  • Empowering students to design and care for their own spaces
  • Building networks – from sharing seeds to visiting other school gardens

Special guest Costa Georgiadis brought his trademark passion and energy, reminding us that patience is essential in the garden and in education, ‘You won’t get everyone the first time. If not through food, try biodiversity, invertebrates, a bird count, fabrics and fibres, pollinators – plants are powerful’. His message encouraged attendees to think broadly about the possibilities gardens offer, sparking fresh approaches to engaging students..

Costa shared a project idea everyone loved: preps planting sunflowers at the school entrance, timed to bloom just as the new preps arrive. It was a simple but powerful way to connect students, create a sense of welcome, and celebrate growth.

The morning also celebrated school garden specialists and the announcement of the School Garden Champion, Marilyn Battour from Karingal Primary School. Much to her surprise, Marilyn was recognised for her dedicated volunteer work in creating a thriving community garden for outdoor learning at her grandchildren’s school. Her vision and commitment have continued to expand, inspiring further garden projects throughout the school grounds.h.

All attendees, principals and garden specialists alike, departed the breakfast with new connections, fresh ideas and renewed enthusiasm to grow their own school gardens and strengthen community ties.

Karingal’s Marilyn Battour Named 2025 Garden Champion

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The Victorian Schools Garden Program is proud to recognise Marilyn Battour of Karingal Primary School as the 2025 School Garden Champion!

Through her boundless energy and generosity, Marilyn has transformed a simple patch of ground into a flourishing community garden and living classroom. Families and community partners have been drawn in, making the garden a truly shared space of learning, sustainability, and connection.

As a grandmother and devoted volunteer, Marilyn has created a legacy that will inspire for years to come, a thriving centre where curiosity, learning, and community grow side by side.

From left to right – Eliana Williams (Karingal Primary School student), Samantha Cooke (Karingal Primary School principal), Marilyn Battour (2025 School Garden Champion), Costa Georgiadis, Craig Taberner (VSGP Chairman) and Ben Clark (Kuranga Native Nursery owner).

This year, a whooping 43 heartfelt nominations from schools across Victoria we received. Each nominee demonstrated passion, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to nurturing both gardens and young minds, making the judging process inspiring yet extremely challenging. All school garden specialist share devotion and commitment to the cause, which goes above and beyond the role.

We are delighted to recognise all nominees for their remarkable contributions:
 
Michael CoatesAlvie Primary School
Clare DaviesArmadale Primary School
Megan De kookArmstrong Creek School, Geelong
Jamie Briones (Mr)Aspendale Gardens Primary School
David GortonBacchus Marsh Grammar (Maddingley Campus)
Adam HerftBentleigh Secondary College
Mark ChludzinskiBotanic Ridge Primary School
Noel and Jenni BlencoweBrunswick South Primary School 
Courtney JewelBundoora Primary School 
Mark JonesBuninyong Primary School
Steven TaylorCardross Primary School
Desley InsallCollingwood College
Susie ParkesDoncaster Gardens Primary School
Justine GoodingDrouin West Primary School
Marina StahlEastwood Primary School
Zoe BeckettElliminyt Primary School
Sharyn BrownGilson College, Taylors Hill
Michelle CluadioGoodstart Frankston South
Elisha PearceHeany Park Primary School, Rowville
Wilma HoneysettHoly Trinity Primary School, Wantirna South
Marilyn Battour – WINNERKaringal Primary School  
Katelyn SmithKaroo Primary School, Rowville
Colin CameronMerrivale Primary, Warrnambool
Leanne HodgeNilma Primary School
Candice EppPoowong Consolidated School
Cathryn TempletonRed Rock Christian College, Sunbury
Jayalakshmi ParasuramanSirius College, Keysborough
Belinda Cooper and Anna HarmesSt Aloysius Primary School, Redan
Will MaddenSt Brendan’s Primary School, Flemington
Russell DykesSt Georges Road Primary School, Shepparton
Christian der KinderenSt John the Baptist School, Ferntree Gully
Frank OverbergSt Louis de Montfort’s School, Aspendale
Corey DonnellonSt Mary’s Primary School, Donald
Russell SturtevantSt Peter’s Primary School, Epping
Isobel HarperSt Pius X Primary School, Heidelberg West
Shelley WilloughbySydney Road Community School, Brunswick
Trevor Roelofs (Mr Trev)The Lake Primary School, Cabarita  
Tresa MintramTorquay P-6 College
Kim AitkenTucker Road Bentleigh Primary School
Kat StamelosWallington Primary School, Wallington
Jill DowlingWandin Yallock Primary School, Wandin North
Rebecca Tyler-BrennanYarram Secondary College

Funding secured for Branch Out Secondary School Program

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The Nursery and Garden Industry Victoria (NGIV) is delighted to announce that funding has been secured to continue Branch Out, our innovative program introducing secondary school students to the world of horticulture.

Branch Out offers students hands-on experiences and insights into the diverse career opportunities our industry provides—sparking curiosity and inspiring the next generation to consider horticulture as a rewarding and sustainable future.

Sponsored by the Victorian Government and The Hon. Ros Spence, Minister for Agriculture, the $100,000 funding ensures more students across Victoria can connect with plants, people, and possibilities through engaging classroom and industry-based learning until the end of 2026.

Branch Out aims to:

  • Deliver immersive learning experiences for Victorian secondary students (Years 7–10, adaptable to Years 11–12)
  • Develop curriculum-aligned lesson plans to teach and engage students in horticulture
  • Provide in-class facilitation and incursions led by industry experts
  • Offer immersive excursions to horticultural businesses
  • Raise awareness among teachers and students about modern agricultural careers

Branch Out will reach 20–25 schools across Victoria, with a goal to engage around 500 students, including strong participation from regional communities.

Nominate Your School Garden Champion

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Do you have a passionate garden educator or dedicated volunteer at your school who deserves recognition?

Many school gardens flourish thanks to a committed Garden Champion, someone who goes above and beyond to nurture the garden and inspire students. Now’s your chance to honour their dedication!

Nominate your School Garden Champion by completing the nomination form by Friday 15 August.

 

All nominees will be celebrated and the Award recipient announced at the Principals’ Breakfast on Monday 15 September (information below under Events) with our favourite gardener, Costa Georgiadis, presenting the Award.

Let’s celebrate the green thumbs who help our school gardens thrive! 

Contact us

Tania Karamitos
Program Co-ordinator
Victorian Schools Garden Awards
Phone: 03 9576 0599
Fax: 03 9576 0431
Email: vsgp@ngiv.com.au