[permaculture-oceania] Eastern Suburbs community garden to receive national award

[Russ Grayson]

YOU'RE INVITED...

Australian City Farms & Community Gardens Network
PO Box 1045 Manly NSW 1655.
M: 0414 065 203 
E: info at pacific-edge.info www.communitygarden.org.au

MEDIA RELEASE

Date of issue: 21 July 2006           Embargoed until:
http://www.communitygarden.org.au/
for invite and media release


EASTERN SUBURBS GARDEN TO RECEIVE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE

The Australian City Farms & Community Gardens Network¹s annual Award for
Excellence has been awarded to the Eastern Suburbs Community Garden at Bondi
Junction.

The award ceremony will be made at the community garden on 1 August 2006 at
11.30am by NSW Network coordinator, Fiona Campbell.

The Award recognises the innovative work of the community gardeners in
garden management and for their valuable role in advising and mentoring
other community gardens.

³The community garden provides a productive focus for residents in the
Waverley local government area², said NSW Network spokesman, Russ Grayson.
³It is a place where people come to grow fresh vegetables and herbs, to
enjoy each other¹s company and to engage in healthy, outdoor recreation².

Community gardening has taken off across Australia. At the start of the
1990s there were only a handful of community gardens but today there are
hundreds. A growing number of local governments, such as Waverley Council,
as well as the NSW government recognise the value of community gardening and
provide assistance. Eastern Suburbs Community Garden is one of two serving
the area. The other, at Payne Reserve, receives support from Randwick City
Council¹s sustainability team.

³Community gardens are as much about building a sense of community through
neighbourhood involvement as they are about growing healthy, fresh food²,
said Russ Grayson. ³University research at UNSW/UWS has revealed their role
in reducing crime. But just as importantly, they are family-friendly
places².

The Eastern Suburbs Community Garden is part of the Australian City Farms &
Community Gardens Network, a national association of community gardeners and
the people that support them. Network members voted in favour of Eastern
Suburbs Community Garden receiving this year¹s award at the Network's annual
conference in Adelaide in April this year.

Location of Award:
Clementson Park, Ebley Street, Bondi Junction - enter from Ebley or Newland
Street.

The short award ceremony will be followed by refreshments and the
opportunity to view the garden and talk to those involved.


Fiona Campbell 
M: 0405 631 497 or 
Media contact - Russ Grayson 0414 065 203

Photo opportunities in community gardens can be arranged.

The Australian City Farms & Community Gardens Network educates, advises and
advocates for members involved in or supporting community food gardens.


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^