1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 1: Now a local outside of school hours care center, Sclley 2 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:07,800 Speaker 1: Wags in Molden. It's been targeted by vandals who've destroyed 3 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:11,039 Speaker 1: the children's veggie garden. Anyone who's grown their own fruit 4 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 1: and vegetables would know how much hard work and love 5 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 1: goes into making them flourish. I'm told that the kids 6 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: are pretty shattered, with the center calling for donations to 7 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 1: help to replenish the garden. And joining me on the 8 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 1: line right now is Scaley Wagg's Childcare Center, Palmerston director 9 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:33,519 Speaker 1: Michelle MacArthur. Good morning to you, Michelle. 10 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 2: Good morning, Katie, thank you for having me. 11 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:38,159 Speaker 1: Oh, thanks so much for joining us. Michelle Fursley. What happened? 12 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 2: And well, apparently on Saturday afternoon there was we don't 13 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 2: know who, people, children or people have come into the 14 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:55,440 Speaker 2: posh area outside schoolaes area and just trash their whole 15 00:00:55,520 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 2: veggie garden. They had watermelon they're ready to be picked 16 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:05,040 Speaker 2: and that was just destroyed thrown. They have got scarecrows 17 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 2: there and yeah, it was really devastating. They up into 18 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 2: tables and anything that was out there. So they just 19 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 2: left it looking a real mess. And of course it 20 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:19,480 Speaker 2: wasn't noticed by the school until Monday morning when a 21 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:22,680 Speaker 2: couple of children from the school have actually noticed it 22 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:27,319 Speaker 2: and brought it to the attention of the principal, Ali Brady, 23 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 2: and she's then gone around. She did assist with upriding 24 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 2: the tables and that, so it didn't look quite so bad. 25 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 2: But yeah, we haven't been out to find out. Obviously 26 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:43,320 Speaker 2: she's made a report, but we don't know who was involved. 27 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 2: But yeah, we've been really focusing even though the children 28 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 2: were really disappointed about it all, we've been trying to 29 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 2: focus now on the support that with the overwhelming support 30 00:01:57,040 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 2: that the Modern parkosh have been given regard to replacement 31 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 2: of the plants and everything for them to rebuild. 32 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:14,960 Speaker 1: Oh how frustrating. You know, so much care and love 33 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 1: and work goes into creating a veggie garden, and it 34 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:23,519 Speaker 1: sounds like it was really flourishing with the watermelons growing 35 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 1: and everything. 36 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, well they had a lot of help from Treasure, 37 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 2: but from Bunnings Parmerson and she came out over the 38 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:38,640 Speaker 2: last two lots of vacation care and gave garden beds 39 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 2: and helped with sealed seedlings and that so and encourage 40 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 2: the children to plant these seeds and that and so 41 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:48,919 Speaker 2: they got them all up and going and the killed 42 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 2: children have been watching these grow and flourish for the 43 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:57,960 Speaker 2: last two terms and now it's all gone. Oh yeah, 44 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 2: so we'll start again. They with lots of help and support. 45 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:07,079 Speaker 2: We've had a number of donations form you know for 46 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 2: funding vouchers so they can go and buy purchase more 47 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:16,440 Speaker 2: seedlings and plants. We've had vouchers from Evil or Karen 48 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 2: Key and also money donations, so they've been really the 49 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 2: community has really been supportive and you know, rallying around 50 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 2: the children and the educators from the Molden Parklash to 51 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 2: help them. You know, yes, we get it regoing again. 52 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 1: I'm so pleased to hear that. And you know that's 53 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 1: something that I always love about the Northern Territories. You know, 54 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 1: when something really bloody ordinary happens, what we do see 55 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 1: is the community rally together and support each other. And 56 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 1: it sounds like that is exactly what's happening. Michelle. Can 57 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 1: you just explain to me what does that garden mean 58 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 1: for this students because it sounds like it's a place 59 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 1: of learning for them but also like really you know, nourish, 60 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 1: like it's really helping them to nurture something and watch 61 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 1: it grow. 62 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 2: Well, and that's the thing. I suppose they've watched these 63 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 2: you know, they help plant everything, they watched them grow. 64 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:24,679 Speaker 2: They're the ones that have been watering them every day, 65 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 2: things like that, and to get them to grow and 66 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 2: flourish as much as what they have done. The children 67 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 2: at the osh, we're really proud of what they've achieved. 68 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:39,599 Speaker 2: And then for someone to come along and do this, 69 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:42,480 Speaker 2: you know a lot of the younger ones have been 70 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:45,040 Speaker 2: saying why did they do it? And it's like, well, 71 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:47,280 Speaker 2: we don't have any answers for that. We've got to 72 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 2: focus on the positive that we've got lots of community 73 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 2: coming around and we'll replant them all and we'll get 74 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 2: them growing again. So it's actually teaching them a little 75 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 2: bit of resilience, yeah, as you know as well. But yeah, 76 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:06,479 Speaker 2: they were you know, they've worked really hard to keep 77 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 2: this garden growing and respectful of the garden, and they're 78 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 2: learning so much from the garden of what plants to 79 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:19,880 Speaker 2: plant to help feed people, the flowers you need, you know, 80 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 2: for the bees and that. So it has been a 81 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 2: really learning experience for them. 82 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 1: What a wonderful thing that you know that they're able 83 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:31,359 Speaker 1: to learn in terms of what they've been doing to 84 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:34,600 Speaker 1: create that garden. And I know that this is incredibly 85 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:37,720 Speaker 1: sad and disappointing for them, but you're spot on. It's 86 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:40,680 Speaker 1: you know, it's now a situation where where you're all 87 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 1: rallying together and you're teaching the kids, you know, out 88 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 1: of something bad that's happened. Look at the good that 89 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:49,840 Speaker 1: you're seeing from the community now, and it really does 90 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 1: seem as though that the community is right behind you 91 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:55,039 Speaker 1: to try and help out they. 92 00:05:55,600 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 2: We've been overwhelmed by the support from the community. Has 93 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 2: posted you know, put a post up and it's just 94 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 2: you know, it's been amazing healthy response we've had. 95 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:12,119 Speaker 1: Michelle, is there anything that you still need in terms 96 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:14,720 Speaker 1: of donations or anything that you're seeking that our listeners 97 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 1: might be able to help with if they are listening 98 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 1: this morning and think I'd love to help these guys. 99 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 2: Well, at the moment, we're just waiting. We do we know, 100 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:26,159 Speaker 2: we are aware that we've got a lot of donations 101 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 2: coming in. Yep, you know, plants, seedlings, they're the main 102 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 2: things they want to get up and running again. 103 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 1: And Michelle, am I right that it was a prize 104 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 1: watermelon that was growing or is it just that it 105 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:42,160 Speaker 1: was massive and ready to finally be picked. 106 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 2: I was ready and fine, ready to be picked. So 107 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 2: they'd watch this watermelon and they were all excited this 108 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 2: week it was going to be picked and cut up 109 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 2: and shared around because they obviously use whatever they're growing 110 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 2: in the garden in cooking, the mean cooking experiences and that. 111 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 2: So they were excited that this watermelon was going to 112 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:09,039 Speaker 2: be picked this week and they were eager to all 113 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 2: sample it. They've grown corn in the past which they've 114 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 2: cooked up and sampled and that, ye, and it gets 115 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 2: the children trying new and fresh veggies, which sometimes they 116 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 2: wouldn't do, but because they're watching them grow, they're more 117 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 2: inclined to try. 118 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 1: And Oh, Michelle, what a wonderful thing that you guys 119 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 1: are doing out there at Scaliwagg's childcare center at Palmerston 120 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 1: and the after school, the outside school hours care doing that, 121 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 1: you know, with that garden and teaching those children. I 122 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 1: think it's a beautiful thing for them to be learning about. 123 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 2: Now. 124 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:49,440 Speaker 1: If there is anyone listening this morning that is eager 125 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 1: to help, is it best for them to get in 126 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 1: contact with us here at the station and we can 127 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:53,480 Speaker 1: pass them on. 128 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's probably the best. 129 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: Yeah. Oh, Michelle, thank you so much for having a 130 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 1: chat with us this morning. Please let us know how 131 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 1: things are tracking as well. And once you are in 132 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 1: a situation where you know where you have got things 133 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 1: back up and running, good on those kids. I just 134 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: think it's a really great thing that you're doing out there. 135 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:16,720 Speaker 1: Thank you very much, Thanks so much for your time. 136 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 2: You did a community for supporting the Molden bark oh wakes. 137 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, good on you. Thanks so much, Michelle, very much 138 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 1: appreciate your time.