1. 1 Submission Number: 29967 Project Number: 76675 Job Code 1-160
Nutrition and Permaculture Garden
Background
Over the past few decades in Cape York market gardens were developed through the Homelands
and Outstation Movement, Environmental Health Programs, Healthy for Life Initiative, and economic
development frameworks implemented by local and regional NGOs. When the decision was made to
establish the Permaculture Garden at Roworr (meaning dry place, the residential rehabilitation
centre) it was based on an empowerment model and action-orientated therapy with goal setting,
enabling the residents to actively engage in a pastime that would keep their mind off their
dependencies as they learn to understand addiction; and educate residents and their children on the
need to take responsibility for their health and wellbeing.
The AOD Service originally based the garden on principles of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen
Garden – paddock to plate model. It has been developed as a school based program all around the
country where children had fun getting their hands dirty and learning how to grow, harvest, prepare
and share fresh, seasonal food. The fundamental philosophy that underpins the Stephanie Alexander
Kitchen Garden Program is that by setting good examples and engaging children’s curiosity, as well
as their energy and their taste buds, you can provide positive and memorable food experiences that
will form the basis of positive lifelong eating habits.1
The AOD Team decided to incorporate this idea
and a number of philosophies including cultural security.
Work commenced at the residential rehabilitation centre in 2010 to establish a cultural, art and
permaculture garden with general landscaping and beautification activities. Staff, families with
children, and volunteers created an art mural wall using art therapy, a cultural dance area, humpy, a
yarning circle with a pit fire and landscaped existing grounds with natives and bush shrubs.
Aim of this Project 2012
Empower people to take responsibility and greater control of their health and wellbeing by
establishing a therapeutic and holistic approach to nutrition in Pormpuraaw.
1
http://www.kitchengardenfoundation.org.au/about-the-program
2. 2 Submission Number: 29967 Project Number: 76675 Job Code 1-160
Objectives
To increase wellbeing through capacity building and transfer of life skills inclusive of decision
making;
To include the caring and sharing traditions of aboriginal cultural philosophies;
Maintain strong links to healthy lifestyle practices that would prevent chronic disease and
diabetes;
Strengthen families’ knowledge on health promotion education - nutrition, healthy cooking,
healthy snacks for children and menu planning;
Design, establish and maintain areas for food collection and transferring of traditional
knowledge of bush tucker and medicines to children;
Transfer skills to residents in horticulture, irrigation, and permaculture;
Transition residents back into the Community workforce through training delivered by
Jobfind and associated employment services operating in Pormpuraaw;
Include other regional health services in ongoing health promotion activities with the
residents post project completion.
Activities identified within the scope of the project
Mapping and site location of market gardens, horticulture and a native plants;
Identifying plants of traditional use for bush tucker and medicine;
Installation of vegetable garden / landscaping infrastructure;
Collection and planting of flowering trees, shrubs and fruit trees;
Installation of irrigation system;
Building of BBQ area, tiling and paving.
Staff Involvement
Project Manager: Elizabeth Pearson
Project Coordinator: Daniel Bracegirdle
Staff contribution: Wendy Cawdell-Smith
Contractor: Glen Pearson – Carpenter and landscaper
Families Involved
Thyorre Clan: Tracey Charlie, Stephen Dunbar, children and relatives
Wik Mungkin Clan: Jill Yantumba, Michael Norman, children and family members
Partnerships
Job Find: Chris Blaney, Nick Maxwell, Nigel Hall, and CDEP workforce
Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council: CEO – Edward Natera, Mayor Richard Tarpencha and the
Council members; Workforce Management and staff
Traders: Limberlost Nursery, Bunning’s Warehouse, and Harden Lawns
3. 3 Submission Number: 29967 Project Number: 76675 Job Code 1-160
Related projects and strategies
Chronic Disease, Health, Nutrition and Diabetes Education
Infrastructure and community beautification
Remote Community Gardens
Pride of Place
Traditional knowledge Sharing /Educational Programs
Physical exercise programs
Social and Economic Enterprise Development
Community Development
Leadership
Restoration of social and cultural norms
Time Management
Therapy and rehabilitation
Substance Use, Social Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health
Junior Rangers and Botany
Progression
• Residents had to move a great deal of sand, weeds, tuffs of grass, and rubbish from both
front and back yards before top soil arrived;
• Thirty tonnes of top soil was trucked in first to cover the sand in both yards;
• Fruit trees, plants, and shrubs – 80 in total arrived on a truck from Limberlost Nursery;
• 30 bags of top soil distributed across both yards (15 bags each) – front and back, and in
garden and vegetable beds;
• Fruit trees and shrubs planted;
• Banana circle established at Yalu Street bearing chilli and herbs;
• Pathway completed in front;
• Treated timber, mulch, wood chip trucked into community;
• AOD Staff drove into community with perishable fresh produce, tools, and flowers for
garden beds;
• Contractor arrived on the plane;
• Banana Circle established at 105 Ritha Street bearing corn and chilli;
• Nurseries erected at both residences;
• Vegetables planted;
• False Wall erected at Yalu Street for passionfruit vines;
• Pumpkin and corn patches established; passionfruit vines planted;
• Paving completed in both homes;
• BBQs completed with hot plates, grills and a tiled finish;
• 10 pallets of rolled lawn trucked into the community;
• Lawn laid by tenants, their families, staff (Wendy, Liz and Daniel) and contractor (Glen
Pearson).
4. 4 Submission Number: 29967 Project Number: 76675 Job Code 1-160
In kind Support
Jobfind: Establishment of one banana circle with plants and materials; pavers, CDEP support
Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council: Bricks, pavers, cement, man-power and machinery
Outcomes
Fruit trees planted in two gardens: Lime, lemon, orange, sopate; fig, mango, bananas,
chestnut, lychee, mulberry; and passionfruit vines
Fresh produce planted in two gardens: lettuce, tomato, cucumber, red and green capsicum,
Lebanese cucumber; beans, Jap and Queensland blue pumpkins, carrots, spring onions,
brown onions, watermelon, rock melon, Chinese cabbage, corn and chilli
Permaculture practices using natural resources available;
Frangipani trees planted;
Planting of natives and bush tucker; colourful flower beds and fence line shrubbery;
Landscaping, irrigation installation; building and construction, and small plant operation;
Two types of nurseries installed;
BBQs built with paving, tiling, entertainment area and walk way;
Skills transferred in paving, tiling, building BBQs, erecting nurseries, planting;
Establishing banana circles with compost areas
Increased wellbeing through comradeship, empowerment and up skilling of tenants;
Shared responsibility and participation leading to increased joy, confidence and self-esteem;
The interest in the project by other community members;
The request by other community members to have the same project for their homes;
Eventual contribution to self-sufficiency
Feedback
“It’s a good thing what your team is doing for the community”
“I feel so happy and proud”
“I learnt a lot from everyone involved”
“People always stopping and talking to us about the garden, wanting plants and cuttings”
“I feel good”
“We are going to have lots of healthy food and fruit to eat”
“It’s great for the confidence and self-esteem of the residents”
“It’s a good grassroots community development project”
“It’s awesome!”
“I’m so happy, thankyou”
5. 5 Submission Number: 29967 Project Number: 76675 Job Code 1-160
Recommendations
Funding for Whole of Pormpuraaw Community Driven Initiative: Nutrition and
Permaculture Project with a focus on beautification and increasing wellbeing;
Project estimation per house $20,000.00 to include hidden costs and contractor/s (1.8
million over 3 years);
Establish a private enterprise: raw minerals and nursery providing the appropriate training
in landscaping, permaculture, horticulture and small business management
Acknowledgements
A big thankyou to Funding Body (ICC) and its staff member – Ray Wallis; Contractor Glen Pearson
who worked 12 hour days under gruelling heat conditions; Special thanks to Daniel Bracegirdle who
joined Glen, and did a great job working long hours, coordinating with partner staff members,
management, Traders and the families who worked alongside everyone; to Jobfind and the
Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council who supported the AOD Team and families by filling the gaps
with materials, staff, equipment and time.
Risk Management
Machinery broken down, already in demand and or not available;
Possible rain setting in early, and preventing trucks from arriving;
Possible loss of perishable goods due to extreme heat and 10 hour drive to Pormpuraaw
Potential heavy rains, and
Garden pests and infestation.
6. 6 Submission Number: 29967 Project Number: 76675 Job Code 1-160
Before photographs Wik Mungkin – 105 Ritha Street
