Tarrawanna’s schoolyard blitz

Tarrawanna Public School Year 1 student Grace Green with Bunnings Warehouse Managers from Ballina and Sydney, Danny Turner and Dave Britton.

TARRAWANNA Public School received a massive makeover last week, when business, children and the community united to dig, scrape, plant and drag the 'tired' school gardens out of their beds to be replaced with the best native plants and new landscaping.

In just three hours last Wednesday Tarrawanna Public was transformed into a beautiful, garden-rich school, thanks to some enthusiastic help from 55 Bunnings Warehouse managers from all over Australia and New Zealand, who were in town for their annual manager's conference.

The children were heavily involved in the work as well, and some parents even came along to lend a hand.

New gardens were dug, bird-baths put in place, old bushes removed and 250 native plants planted on the afternoon.

And all of the hard work was accomplished using equipment donated to the school.

Following the makeover on the school grounds the new equipment will continue to serve a valuable purpose - allowing students to start their own garden club and also to continue their maintenance of the impressive new outdoor environment.

Tarrawanna Public School was identified as a school in need of some extra help, and Principal Norma Blinkhorn said having the children involved in the work would help them look after their new gardens.

“They are going to take ownership and take pride in the school and the school grounds,” she said.

“The kids are really into it.

“They're very excited.”

Megan Patterson of Wollongong Bunnings Warehouse was the co-ordinator of the project, and said she spent about six weeks making plans of how best to beautify the school.

“Basically it's an absolute overhaul, which was sorely needed,” she said.

“And we're using all native plants which is important to the kids too.”

Around $6000 worth of plants and materials were spent on the project. A special barbecue was cooked up at the school to feed all of the hungry workers once the job was done.