The Coniston Public School students who have been growing and harvesting their own produce for the best part of three years will soon have a suitable place to cook the food.
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Cunningham MP Sharon Bird came bearing gifts on Tuesday and handed the school $10,000 in funding to help build an outdoor community kitchen.
The federal Labor MP was in a festive mood, announcing that 16 groups in her electorate would share in $146,737 in funding under round 4 of the Stronger Communities Programme.
Coniston Public School principal Karen Brown said the kitchen will be built within the school’s permaculture garden to enable different cultural groups to share traditions, cook food and teach recipes.
The total cost of the kitchen is $30,000.
“At the moment we are cooking in facilities that just aren’t up to scratch. The outdoor kitchen really will bring the students and the community together to cook and gather around food,” Mrs Brown said.
“The kitchen will be a covered area. It will include outdoor cooking facilities, an oven, cook-top, stainless steel benchtops and utensils.
“It will be set up so a whole class can cook at any one time.”
Permaculture teacher Kate Perini said having an outdoor kitchen will be the icing on the cake for the school’s students, who have grown and harvested a range of things including onions, pumpkins, zucchinis, cucumbers, watermelon and an “abundance” of tomatoes.
Ms Bird added the funding would help local groups to fund the projects they need to continue to deliver services to the community.
“It is an absolute pleasure to be here with principal Karen Brown and representatives from the P&C, led by Kate Perini, today to see their innovative plans for a community kitchen to embrace the multicultural community here at Coniston Public School,” she said.
“I know the students will enjoy growing and producing their own food while learning about different cultures and traditions.”
Helensburgh Tennis Club, WEA and Greenacres are among other groups who will also receive funding for community projects.