[permaculture-oceania] Press coverage of community garden award

[Russ Grayson]

PRESS COVERS COMMUNITY GARDEN AWARD

Following is the text of a press report on the award for excellence to
Eastern Suburbs Community Garden by the Australian City Farms & Community
Garden Network.

The report appeared in this week's Wentworth Courier, the newspaper covering
the northern part of Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. A colour photo of the
gardeners in their garden accompanied the report. A report on the award can
be found at www.communitygarden.org.au

Written by Nina Lamparski and headed 'Gardener's Group Wins Top Award', the
report stated:

"Those green thumbs at Bondi Junction have dug up something really good this
time. The Eastern Suburbs Community Garden Association (ESCGA) has won the
award for excellence from the Australian City Farms & Community Gardens
Network.

"The annual prize recognised the innovative work of the community gardeners
in garden management and their valuable role in advising and mentoring other
community gardens.

"Liz Hillaire, a retired teacher who joined the ESCGA six years ago with her
husband Joe, said the project was vital in fostering a closer community
spirit.

"We've got a wonderful group of about 40 members who are all varied in age,
gender and backgrounds", she said.

"It's very multicultural and a lovely mixture.

"My husband is French, there's a Vietnamese boy, Helena is from Uruguay and
so on".

NSW Network spokesperson Russ Grayson said the garden provided "a productive
focus for residents in the Waverley local area".

"University research has revealed [the gardens'] role in reducing crime.

"It is a family-friendly place where people come to grow fresh vegetables
and herbs, to enjoy each other's company and to engage in healthy, outdoor
recreation".

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RUSS GRAYSON
journalism, online content production, photojournalism, instructional
manuals, media services for overseas aid

PO Box 1045, Manly, NSW 1655 AUSTRALIA
info at pacific-edge.info
P: 0414 065 203
www.pacific-edge.info

TerraCircle international development team, Oceania
www.terracircle.org.au

Australian City Farms & Community Gardens Network
www.communitygarden.org.au
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