Chronicle garden competition: Our Lady of Lourdes Toowoomba transform school grounds

The humble dreams of a former school mum to “make things prettier” has borne fruit for the school community of Our Lady of Lourdes in Toowoomba.

Jo Broderick witnessed years of the school grounds being barren from drought, prompting her to volunteer in the garden.

“I always dreamt of making it more colourful for the kids,” said Mrs Broderick.

Since then Mrs Broderick has become the Grounds Person at Our Lady of Lourdes, with drought tolerant flowering natives central to her design for the school garden.

Our Lady of Lourdes student Ben Vidler holding pot of snap dragons

The approach is paying off, with the grounds overflowing with colour and plants of all varieties, much to the delight of the local neighbourhood, as the school enters this year’s Chronicle Garden Competition.

Principal Chris Golightly praised the school’s improved appearance, pointing out the additional positive benefits on the children’s health and wellbeing.

Our Lady of Lourdes students (left to right) Darius Lait, Tyler Shakespeare, Levi Roberts, Tim Furminger and Ben Vidler helping the school prepare for the The Chronicle Garden Competition 2021.

“The school gardens have become an additional learning space, teaching us all valuable life lessons about the environment and ourselves,” Mr Golightly said.

“The growth in student engagement has been remarkable. You can see the kids take ownership and develop a sense of pride.”

Students can participate in lunchtime nature walks or be part of Mrs Broderick’s School Garden Club and get their hands dirty planting, watering and weeding.

“I love seeing the kids’ excitement at seeing their first seeds sprout and getting to pick and taste veggies they have grown themselves,” said Mrs Broderick.

The Garden Club grows plants from seeds they collect in the garden – paper daisies, snap dragons and herbs – and sell them to the other students.

Although Garden Club member, Levi Roberts, is rumoured to buy the most from their own stall.

“My favourite is the cumquat,” Levi said.

“I gave it the name ‘Nature’s Warhead’ because it’s really sour – most of the kids think they are too sour, but I love them!”

Local birds and bees delight in the native trees planted around Our Lady of Lourdes in Toowoomba.