A new Indigenous garden and yarning circle has blossomed in the school yard of Springside Primary School.
After securing a 2023 Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grant, Springside Primary School gardening coordinator Jayne Pizzo said the school wanted to use the grant to increase the biodiversity of the plants at Springside.
“We decided on local native plants because they require the least amount of water and are suited to the soil in this area. The students suggested that we have an Acknowledgement to Country banner in the area and from then we researched how to make it an Indigenous garden,” she said.
The school’s Year 4 students delved into research to identify plants traditionally used by local Indigenous communities for medicine, food, tools, and crafts. To prevent damage to the delicate plants, the team envisioned and implemented a dry river bed.
“The year 4 cohort have all taken part in every aspect of the development of this garden. They have absolutely loved planting over 250 plants, moving many wheelbarrows full of mulch, small stones and large stones and identifying the plants and their uses,” Ms Pizzo said.
“The highlight has definitely been finally getting to use the yarning circle and learning all about how it is used respectfully.”
Looking ahead, the school hopes the Indigenous garden and Yarning Circle become a cherished space for students to engage in open discussions and develop respectful relationships. The goal is for the area to serve as a safe haven for students to express themselves without judgement.
Exciting future plans for the Indigenous garden include the incorporation of QR codes. These codes will offer an interactive learning experience, allowing students to scan and explore the rich cultural and environmental significance of the plants and the Indigenous garden as a whole.
A special note of gratitude was extended to Colin Hunter Jnr, who visited the school to perform a Smoking Ceremony, officially inaugurating the Springside Primary School Indigenous garden.
Hannah Hammoud
