Students sink their teeth into Mandalay munchies

September 2009

Students from Craigieburn South Primary School will discover their green thumbs this term, taking part in the exciting new ‘Mandalay Munchies’ edible garden program, launched on Wednesday 16 September.

Sponsored by the nearby bourgeoning new residential estate, ‘Mandalay at Beveridge’, the launch saw approximately 50 students get their hands dirty planting an array of vegies, fruit, and herbs in their new garden bed, before embarking on an education program about the importance of sustainable living throughout term four.

In conjunction with the in-school sustainable future education program, the students will also tend to their garden, watering and cultivating the seedlings until they are mature enough to eat.

The ‘Mandalay Munchies’ program will conclude towards the end of the school year when the students will pick the fruits of their labour – literally – and cook a delicious feast with their spoils.

The project is part of Mandalay’s wider pledge to the community to fund local school ventures in a wide range of subjects including art, sport, the environment and now the importance of healthy living and eating.

The master-planned residential community, once completed will offer an array of impressive features such as an 18-hole architecturally designed golf course, vast open spaces, onsite facilities including a proposed school, proposed retail site and ‘Club Mandalay, which includes a café, swimming pool, tennis courts, gymnasium and much more.

Craigieburn South Primary School will also receive a generous donation from the local development in a bid to fund more sustainability awareness programs within the school curriculum in the future.

The program has garnered support from generous local businesses, Mitre10 Kilmore pitching in to donate the construction materials, and Unique Landscaping Solutions kindly building the vegetable garden.

Craigieburn South Primary School library teacher and in-school facilitator for the ‘Mandalay Munchies’ program, Elizabeth Andrews, said the program will better educate the students on the skills needed for the future.

“ The ‘Mandalay Munchies’ program is a fantastic way for the students to learn some practical, hands-on techniques to become more environmentally conscious, understand where their food comes from and promote healthier eating habits.

“ The program will tie in with other concepts we endeavour to teach the students, such as recycling and awareness of the environment around us.

“ It is imperative these skills are handed down now, so the students can incorporate the knowledge into how they live their lives down the track,” Ms Andrews said.

Mandalay project manager, Rod Binedell, said the program was an important step in educating young people about the importance of sustainability for tomorrow.

“ The age of sustainable futures is now, we need to ensure education programs like ‘Mandalay Munchies’ are implemented in schools throughout Australia so children are better equipped to plan for the future.

“ If the ‘Mandalay Munchies’ program can inspire some of these students to employ sustainable practises in their daily lives, develop healthier lifestyle habits such as eating good food, while also sending the message home by telling their parents about environmental awareness; then our vision for a sustainable future is in reach,” Mr Binedell said.

“ Part of our objective is to ensure we engage with the community in a productive, positive way and offer support in terms of funding and sponsorship for programs which benefit the community.”