Gallery l Timeless friendships grow from garden at Dookie Primary School

By Jay Bryce

Sep 14, 2023

All-star team: Year 3 student Jax Payne, Year 5 student Lukas Hilbig, volunteer Joy Sims, volunteer Therese Tischler, Year 3 student Lyla Madden, volunteer Enid Richards, Prep student Alex Madden and Year 6 student Daisy Kee. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

When Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation healthy kids adviser Katie Thorp headed to Dookie Primary School, she had no idea her mission to get the kids active and in the garden would result in a different seed being planted: intergenerational friendship.

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She aimed to encourage healthy eating habits for the students, impart practical meal preparation skills, and revive the school’s garden.

When Ms Thorp got the ball rolling at the start of this term, she posted on a Dookie community Facebook group to see if any locals wanted to get involved with the project.

Her call for volunteers to join the cause was met with enthusiasm, as around 10 dedicated locals stepped up to assist her every Monday at the school.

“The primary school numbers had been down in recent years,” she said.

“For Dookie, the school should be an integral part of that community.

“So it was great to be able to open the doors of the school to the community again and foster those relationships.”

As the term ended, Ms Thorp said that the bonds among everyone had strengthened, leading to lasting friendships.

Many volunteers were retirees who had taken on a grandparent-like role for the children.

Additionally, these volunteers had developed connections with one another, frequently meeting up for a friendly cup of tea.

Ms Thorp said the volunteers and the children had gotten a lot out of the project and that she hoped to do something similar at every school in the region.

“I’m forever passionate about getting little people excited about nutritional eating and healthy food,” she said.

The group signed the term off with the ‘Nourishing Dookie Long Lunch’, which involved the students cooking and preparing food with the help of the volunteers.

News photographer Rechelle Zammit headed along to capture their final meal.