For more than 30 years the Victorians Schools¹ Garden Awards have encouraged school communities to utilise their gardens and grounds effectively, and have supported the full development of every student. Indeed, the Awards provide a great opportunity for students to explore fresh ideas in the face of water scarcity and climate change.

All Victorian schools are invited to enter the Awards program by completing the attached entry form. Schools and regions affected by drought are especially encouraged to participate, thereby expanding traditional notions of what gardening can embrace or lead to.

Judges will visit entrant schools during Term 3, and regional winners and state finalists will be announced during Term 4. In late October, popular gardening personality Jane Edmanson (and her team of judges) will again take to the skies to visit state finalists, and presentation of the Awards will take place in December.

For those schools who received an Award in 2007, don¹t forget to redeem your prize at a nursery listed on the back of your voucher.

Actions Required

• All Victorian schools are invited to enter the Awards by completing the entry form
• 2007 Award recipients who haven¹t redeemed their prizes are reminded to contact a nursery listed on the back of their prize voucher.

Critical Dates: Entries close on Friday 25 July, 2008.

Additional Information: General information regarding the Victorian Schools¹ Garden Awards is available on the Department¹s website:

URL: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/events/garden/default.htm

For further entry information: Contact Debbie Daks, VSGA Program Coordinator, on 0417 507 574, or visit the Nursery & Garden Industry Victoria website