MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS to our very own Local Legend, Cheryl Ivey! 

We are absolutely bursting with pride to share that Cheryl has been recognised by the City of Mandurah with the prestigious Local Legend Award! This award celebrates individuals and groups who make a real difference in the city through actions like volunteering, mentoring, caring for others, or bringing people together. That description is Cheryl to a tee!

At the recent Council meeting, Mayor Amber Kearns personally presented the award, highlighting Cheryl’s incredible, connecting contributions at both the Mandurah Community Gardens and the Lakelands Community Garden. 

Mayor Kearns beautifully described Cheryl as a quiet achiever—always working tirelessly to create a stronger, more connected, and inclusive community through countless acts of kindness and support. Her dedication truly is an inspiration.

Whenever there is an event to organise, or networking with other groups and organisations, or promoting Mandurah Community Gardens by manning stalls at shopping centres or events — Cheryl has done it.

Even most of the photos that are provided for promotions, Facebook posts and for this website, along with their back stories, are from Cheryl. She encourages members to get involved and to feel welcome. In fact, Cheryl is a such a big supporter of so many social and environmental movements that it is difficult to list them all, but you can be sure that wherever the heart is, there you will find Cheryl!

Well done, Cheryl, on this well-deserved honour! We are so lucky to have you. 

In the gallery below are just a few photos of the many times Cheryl is helping out.

There was a great response to the Facebook post...

​In the 21 and over category, the top prize went to Ebony! Her entry was a testament to creativity and storytelling. The macrame hanger she created featured beads spelling out "community pizza garden," and she included charming figurines—one climbing a ladder to harvest cherry tomatoes and another tending to a small pond that filled to water plantings of oregano, thyme, nasturtium, and capsicum. It was a complete miniature world, and we were absolutely captivated!

Mandurah Community Gardens has been picked for this year's Community Raffle project which is run by our local Halls Head Community Bank who have continued to be great supporters of the gardens over the years.
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This fantastic opportunity allows MCG to raise money  through the sales of raffle tickets with wonderful prizes provided by Bendigo Bank.

Tickets are only $5 each and available to purchase from Mandurah Community Gardens during open hours or by asking any Mandurah Community Gardens member who is participating in selling tickets.

Read the Terms & Conditions here

​Volunteering is great way to get involved in the running of the community garden, and to be involved in making decisions that affect how the garden grows.

Taking on a role at the garden provides you with the opportunity to use and share the skills you have gained from your life experience and to build up your knowledge while learning new skills. Being involved in the club provides everyone with an opportunity to make friends, and provide an active purpose in your life by contributing to, and doing something that really benefits the local community.

Ideally, we would welcome the positions being taken up by current members. We are also open to considering anyone who lives locally and is not currently a member of MCG. All positions will have training provided for their roles, with support from the committee members. For current members, or those who would like to become a member; if you are willing to put in some time each week to help run the garden, you can qualify for free yearly membership to Mandurah Community Gardens.

For more information, please Email Jenny at [email protected] or Cheryl at [email protected].

VOLUNTEER ROLES AVAILABLE

GARDEN COORDINATOR'S TEAM
Volunteer to become a member of our Garden Coordinator's Team to help manage the garden.
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​EVENT COORDINATOR'S TEAM
Get involved to help our Events Team to plan, prepare and help set up for workshops and other events at the garden.

Garden Coordinator's Job Description below:

Mandurah Community Gardens have been chosen by Grill'd in Mandurah as one of the 3 lucky local community groups to included in the November 2024 round of LOCAL MATTERS. 

​Support Grill'd to help support us and other local community groups.

A big thank you to Grill'd from all of our members, and the community who enjoy Mandurah Community Gardens, for continuing to support us for nearly 10 years with your Local Matters fund raiser.

Mandurah Community Gardens exists because of the work that our volunteers have put in to make it a place to grow food, to make friends, and to raise awareness in our community about growing our own food in good company. It couldn't keep going without the help of so many volunteers who contribute their time and energy, and share their knowledge.
Like most community assets, this community garden is run as a registered non-profit organisation that requires a team of people that work together on the committee to manage it.
Our garden is like any garden - always planning ahead, making decisions and considering the options to take. And of course, making the most of it means enjoying each other's company and having a great time!

Being a member of a community garden is just like any other community organisation. It is not like being a member of a buying club or a library because it is socially orientated and an activity-based kind of membership. It's value to the member is inherently derived from what members individually put into it. 
For the cost of a very inexpensive membership, Mandurah Community Gardens does provide its members with a place that is resplendent with facilities, cheap leasable and free community plots, fertiliser, seeds, tools, amenities, social events and educational workshops, plus much more — everything a good community garden and every individual member needs to keep growing.
We also extend our invitation to the wider community to attend our events, our workshops, and to visit the gardens when we are open.
If you ask every member who volunteers why they volunteer to help, they will tell you that they get so much more from participating in helping with the garden. They know it truly pays wonderful dividends on what they contribute.
Our members strive to keep the costs of running a garden and the cost of membership down, but the only way to achieve this and keep a community garden is to receive funding and donations from individuals, businesses and government. Still, funding isn't anywhere near enough to run a community garden without the personal effort of our volunteers.

As we have advertised through email, our Bulletin newsletter, on Facebook and on this website, we have roles that urgently need to be filled on the committee. We need volunteers for:

• Secretary 
• Treasurer
• Events Coordinator
• Garden Coordinator

All of these roles are vital for Mandurah Community Gardens to function, and for it to continue to exist. Our committee members are currently pulling together to help with these roles, but it places an unfair burden on each of them to do the extra tasks required for each role above what they already do. Ultimately, it is in the best interests of all our members if every member will give their consideration to this and help us however they can. 
All the roles will have training provided and support from our committee members. The average commitment required for most roles is anywhere for 1-2 hours a week and sometimes a bit more for events or workshops. Committee members are required to attend a committee meeting once a month.

The help from volunteers is how we have got this far, and it's how we will continue to keep going and growing.

If you think you can help your community garden by volunteering your time and skills, please contact Jenny or Cheryl via the form on this website.

It's official - Mandurah Community Gardens’ 10th anniversary year celebrations have come to an end.

To finish off celebrating our 10th year, we have completed the installation of a water feature, sponsored by Fraser's Landing, as a permanent reminder of our volunteers and supporters who help to sustain our community garden - an achievement we can all be proud of!
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A huge THANKYOU to Michelle and the team at Fraser's Landing for all your support over the years, and for being such a great community partner!

Frasers Landing posted about this on their Facebook Page

We were recently given the exciting news that our grant application with Lotterywest was successful!

After nearly two years in the planning, we are now able to move ahead with our planned upgrades. These include extending our under cover area by three metres and extension to the side of the roof so that our workshops can comfortably accommodate more people. We will also be adding clear café blinds to keep out the wind and rain during winter so that the area is more weatherproof.

Another project on the list - we will also be installing a new kitchen! This will give our members and visitors more working space, and a healthier environment for food preparation. The new cupboard space will also provide much needed extra storage in the shed.

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We anticipate the work to commence in March 2023 and that it should not be too disruptive, but we will keep you informed along the way so you know what’s happening in our beautiful garden.

Early next year we hope to have a small gathering at the garden to celebrate this wonderful grant from Lotterywest - we will publish more details closer to the event.

Again, we deeply thank Lotterywest for this wonderful grant that will extend the value that Mandurah Community Gardens provides to our community.

Expect updates as work progresses - stay tuned!

Starting in November and continuing in December on successive Tuesdays, the air will be filled with beautiful sound as vocal coach Sarah Morrison from Musical Kite String holds singing workshops at Mandurah Community Gardens.

Cost is $10 per session to attend and participate. Make a booking by phoning 0449 795 574

When:
Tuesday 29 November - 1:30pm to 2:30pm
Tuesday 6th Dec - 1:30pm to 2:30pm
Tuesday 13th Dec - 1:30pm to 2:30pm

As Sarah says, "Singing is great for the soul, it boosts mental health and confidence". So why not get involved and share with others in the moment?

No experience is necessary to attend, and everyone is welcome to come down and learn how to express themselves. It's a joyful tonic for the soul.

If this is you, or you know someone that would love to come along and try, please pass this on.