News

Many hands make light work - The GPT Group supports Whalan PS

Forty enthusiastic staff from The GPT Group helped out in a working bee at Whalan Public School to kick-start the school’s Kitchen Garden Program in December.

Staff from all different areas of the GPT business donned green t-shirts, caps and gloves to become hardworking gardeners for a full day. Volunteers were split into two groups to work on two large tasks – building new garden beds and constructing a wood-fired pizza oven.

The garden team dug irrigation trenches, laid pipe, cut timber, drilled, moved soil to fill beds, transported mushroom compost and planted out seedlings. The group was thrilled to see they had completed the production of 10 brand-new garden beds by the day’s end. The second team of hardworking volunteers leveled the ground, mixed concrete and laid bricks in order to finish a brand-new wood-fired pizza oven. Staff learnt new skills in brickwork, gardening and teamwork to accomplish this wonderful result for the Whalan Public School community to enjoy.

GPT staff were thrilled to experience the magic of the Kitchen Garden Program first-hand and to help the Program at Whalan in such a meaningful way.

‘It’s one thing to say you support the program but truly another to see it in action. I absolutely loved the day and would love to return in future to assist further. I have a new appreciation for Program and the benefits it provides not only the children but the broader community.’
Richard Walters, National Director, Leasing

‘I’ve been involved from an operational perspective in GPT’s partnership with the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation since its inception and have been a big advocate for it. To see the program in practice and the involvement by my colleagues (many of whom have had limited exposure to the Program) really get behind the day was just as rewarding.’
Christopher Errington, Regional Operations Manager

Ben and Neil from Australian Sustainable Landscapes, and Graeme, a volunteer at Lalor Community Garden, planned the activities the volunteers undertook and were on hand to ensure that the very best outcomes were achieved on the day.

Julie Oliver, Assistant Principal at Whalan PS, was delighted with what the group achieved and said the school was so appreciative of the support.

‘The work the GPT team completed goes a significant way towards completing the main infrastructure for our Kitchen Garden plans! The entire Whalan PS community are grateful for the chance to see our garden design really start to take shape. Seeing the way students have embraced the early phase of our kitchen garden journey through gardening lessons, we know the work GPT completed will continue to further enhance the hands on learning and life skills for our students for many years to come.'

Well done all involved!

To learn more about our partnership with The GPT Group click here.