A Meeting Of Community Gardens

Chris Smyth, the WA Coordinator for Community Gardens Australia (retired 2024) addresses the audience.

​Members from other community garden's and other visitors were led in an acknowledgement to traditional owners of country by John McBain, the sustainability ambassador for Community Gardens Australia.

Jennifer Boivin, the President of Mandurah Community Gardens welcomed our visitors and event organisers.

​Special guest speakers at the event were: from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWAR), Program Manager Winsome MacLaurin and Principal Water Planner, Michael Hammond spoke about water conservation and usage. From Murdoch University, Dr Vicky Solah, Associate Professor and Chair of Food Science and Nutrition talked about our perception of food quality, and Paul Willmott, owner and Irrigation Educator from Willmott Irrigation discussed the methods and best practice for water irrigation.

​Costa Georgiadis, the Community Gardens Australia Garden Ambassador, addressed the audience via live video link on why Financial Viability is important for community gardens.

(from left) Sophie and Amy from North Fremantle Social Farm

​Amy Warne, the Resident Farmer from North Fremantle Social Farm gave an overview of her work and explained the working model of their amazing market garden and what it offers their community, including donating produce to St Pat’s for the vulnerable members of their community. Helping with questions about NFSF was Sophie James-Ross, horticulturalist and manager of the sensory garden.

​Chris Smyth the WA Coordinator for Community Gardens Australia was the MC for the day and he did a great job. Thank you Chris!

Update 2024: Chris has now retired from his voluntary role as WA Coodinator for Community Gardens Australia. We wish him all the best for his future endeavours.

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Other attendees at the event were: Tom Wood the Senior Community Development Officer from the City of Mandurah, Aaron from Pinjarra Community Garden, Bronwyn from Permaculture West and John Draper from local seed provider Harvest Me.

Also, our thanks go to Peg Davies for her amazing morning tea.

Last, but certainly not least, our thanks go to our members of Mandurah Community Gardens for you help on the day too with a special thanks to Cheryl and Bernie for serving up a fantastic wood-fired pizza lunch.