Cade Lucas
Students at a Werribee primary school were treated to a surprise visit from Australia’s most famous gardener and one of its most famous beards on Wednesday morning.
Costa Georgiadis, aka Costa from Garending Australia, turned up unannounced at Saint Joseph’s Primary School on February 7 to reward them for winning Landcare’s nationwide Love Letters to the Land competition.
Saint Joseph’s students submitted hundreds of letters in the competition, with each student sharing heartfelt sentiments about their love for the land and detailing what they do to care for it.
Costa said he was hugely impressed with the effort made by Saint Joseph’s teachers and students.
“Their contribution to the Love Letters to the Land Junior Landcare project was above and beyond and I had the chance to read some of the 300 letters shared by the students at the school,” he said.
“It was such a pleasure to recognise this effort with a face-to-face visit.”
After his surprise appearance at a specially convened assembly, Costa toured the school grounds and participated in planting activities with students.
He marvelled at the commitment Saint Joseph’s had made to gardening and landcare.
“The thing that struck me the most is that the school itself is only four years old and the garden even younger yet they are slowly and surely building an incredibly productive and educational space that is inclusive of all the students,” Costa said.
The school started in January 2021 with 127 students and now has 300 students, many of whom are involved in caring for its large garden area.
The brainchild of Environmental Education teacher Elizabeth McPherson, the area includes a vegetable garden, bush tucker garden, frog habitat, medicine garden, worm farm, composting station, mud kitchen and yarning circle to incorporate Indigenous perspectives.
Costa called Ms McPherson an ‘absolute powerhouse’ for her work starting the garden and inspiring students to care for their natural environment, compliments she was happy to return.
“Costa is a ray of sunshine,” she said, adding that having him come to visit after winning a national award was hugely gratifying.
“This feels like validation for the hard work the children have put in. The kids are thrilled to meet Costa; we all love watching Gardening Australia Junior.”
