Community Placemaking Grant Projects 2015

Booked in Hooked inTidy Towns Sustainable Communities Award Finalist 2016The ‘Booked in Hooked in’ program was a two-month early literacy program for kindergarten children. Community Kinder’s Plus, cluster manager of Mornington Park Kindergarten, partnered with the Shire, Kids Own Publishing, Ardoch Youth Foundation and actively involved parents and students in the program.

To commence the creative process children undertook an archaeological dig in the kindergarten sandpit. To their surprise they discovered a number of fossils and artefacts. Using notepad technology the students developed a series of ‘mini books’ each week that highlighted their explorations and learnings at kindergarten. The ‘Booked in Hooked in’ program aimed to increase a sense of pride of place in the Tanti community with the intent of increasing the number of local children and families participating in early years programs and services. At the end of the two-month program the students excitedly published their own book titled “There is No Place Like Home”.

The notepad technology is cost effective and readily available for use across the early years sector. The program actively engages children to participating in their own stories which they can print onto an A4 sheet of paper and fold into a mini-book.

Modbox ManiaTidy Towns Sustainable Communities Award Finalist 2016The movable garden ModBox Mania Project excelled as a sustainable environmental design to beautify the street landscape of Hastings. The Western Port Chamber of Commerce Inc (WWCI) in partnership with the Shire coordinated the involvement of seven local traders as well as sponsorship from Bunnings Warehouse to engage local schools, kindergartens and childcare centres in the design

and planting of vegetation in each ModBox. The ModBox design is fully irrigated, self-sustainable and movable whilst enhancing the public space in the central business area of Hastings. The project connected local businesses with the broader community and engaged children so they could learn about plants, herbs and vegetables.

Rosebud Busking FestivalTidy Towns Sustainable Communities Award Finalist 2016The Busking Street Festival was held on Saturday 14 November 2015 throughout the shopping precinct in Rosebud. The placemaking grant went to the Rosebud Chamber of Commerce which brought together local businesses, schools, performing artists, performing arts schools, local youth, retirees, pensioners and local choirs

for a uniquely inspiring colourful event that combined culture with art, music and entertainment to engage the community. The Busking Street Festival generated tourism to the area and was an exemplary example of community collaboration to enhance and vitalize a township through an arts and culture event.

Wallaroo Healthy and Active Kids ProjectTidy Towns Sustainable Communities Award Participant 2016This initiative came about through discussions at the Wallaroo Resident’s Action Group (WRAG) which brings together the Shire, residents, Good Shepherd, education and community agencies.

Wallaroo Healthy and Active Kids Project has revived the existing community garden at Good Shepherd Wallaroo Community House and integrated the garden produce into the Kids in the Kitchen Program to enable children to be involved in the establishment and harvesting of fresh produce. The project has also incorporated a number of sporting activities to activate healthier lifestyles.

The WRAG continue to implement projects and programs in the Wallaroo community, it was successful in receiving a 2016 Placemaking Grant to connect the places and spaces between the Wallaroo Primary School, reserve and the community house.

Balnarring Primary School – Sensory GardenTidy Towns Sustainable Communities Award Participant 2016Balnarring Primary School has converted a bland green lawn area into a vibrant colourful Sensory Garden for children and the broader community to enjoy. The Sensory Garden encourages the use of all five senses and was developed to enhance students’ social and emotional wellbeing. School students and parents have been actively involved in the project and the school also received a generous donation of materials from the Balnarring Village Shops.

Initially the idea of the garden came from discussions around providing a place for ‘reflection’ for children, this then grew into the concept of a Sensory Garden. The school is open to the broader community who regularly use the fitness tract and the wetland area. The new Sensory Garden will be an asset for Balnarring Primary School students to enjoy as well as a benefit to the wider community by providing an aesthetic place for locals to sit and reflect or enjoy a picnic.

Balcombe Estuary Rotunda Environmental Art ProjectTidy Towns Sustainable Communities Award Finalist 2016The Balcombe Estuary Reserves Group (BERG) Mt Martha revitalised the rotunda at the old campground at the Balcombe Estuary with a series of murals that intermingled with the environment to feature local flora and fauna and water themes. Local artist Michael Leeworthy worked with

students from Mt Martha and Osborne Primary Schools, Bentons Junior College and Balcombe Grammar along with BERG to complete the murals which were launched on the 14 December 2015 with Councillor Bev Colomb supporting the event.

BBQ istallation @ Hillview Community Reserve, Boundary Road, DromanaThe Peninsula Mountain Park Committee in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Dromana has a vision for the Hillview Community Reserve. Through their joint partnership they are developing several aspects of the reserve for the benefit of the local community and visitors to the reserve. Council’s 2015 Placemaking Grant saw the installation of two BBQs at the reserve which are used by the local community and the increasing number of tourists in the picnic area.

Fortune FlagsThe Balnarring Village Common, in association with Mornington Peninsula Shire, presented the Fortune Flags “I dream…” project where workshop participants were invited to design and make their own personal flag to express their dreams, using printmaking and crafting techniques. Together the flags were displayed at the Annual Balnarring Flower and Garden show as part of the Balnarring Community Sustainability Festival.

Shoreham Gathering Place at CFA and TriangleThree picnic tables and bench seats have been established by the Shoreham Community Association in the central precinct of the coastal village within the grounds of the CFA Brigade. The facility augments the visibility of and access to the Shoreham Triangle an – area below the CFA’s property. The picnic tables and bench seats add value to the community’s progressive works

in revegetation of fire-retardant native trees, shrubs and wildflowers that have been undertaken in partnership with Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Natural Systems team. Located on contoured and grass lawns maintained by the CFA the picnic tables and bench seats are a welcome community asset.

Bundjil’s NestWinner of national early childhood education and care awardsBalnarring Pre-school, Balnarring Primary School and the Balnarring Early Learning centre launched the Bundjil nest late in 2015. The Bundjil’s nest was created for children to learn about the story of Bundjil whilst learning about nests and their construction. Over 500 people gathered on the Balnarring Beach to celebrate First Peoples culture. Children and adults proudly carried their sticks that contained messages of hope and inspiration and placed them into a metal frame as the nest began to take shape. Close to 200 children sang an Acknowledgement to Country song – “Bundjil is a spirit” and a colourful fireworks display followed. A miniature Bundjil’s nest replicating the larger nest is housed in the playground at the preschool.

The Bundjil’s nest project received the ‘Advancing Pedagogy and Practice Award’ late last year for this initiative which acknowledges and embeds the beliefs and values of the First Peoples into the service’s practice and learning. The learnings from the project have embraced the community and the $10K development grant received from the HESTA awards program will be used to further promote understanding and awareness of local First People’s culture including a festival.

Sunshine Reserve Community ConnectionsThe Sunshine Reserve Conservation and Fireguard Group Inc. hosted a number of activities including Mt Martha Primary School students being treated to a Living Culture experience in Fairbairn and Sunshine Reserves. The students learned about bush foods, medicines, and plant uses. The cultural experience included holding indigenous tools and learning about their uses as well as

listening to the didgeridoo. Students also participated in an environmental game ‘The Web of Life’ and then planted a number of native shrubs and plants throughout the reserve. A Living Culture experience was later hosted for 60 participants who braved the cool, damp weather for the cultural treat.

Creating Capable LeadersFamily Life’s Creating Capable Leaders Program provides leadership opportunities for women and was delivered to women in the Tootgarook township with graduates then going on to commence a number of community development initiatives. Four women from the Tootgarook township attended and graduated from the CCL training which commenced in October 2015. The course content included working together, strengths, leadership, community, community development, SMART goals,

project action planning, communication, evaluation and stress management. Graduates have gone on to start the Peninsula Healthy Kitchen Program at Tootgarook Primary School which provides a sustainable lunchtime program one day per week to provide nutritious and healthy meals to primary school students. Tootgarook Primary School was successful with a placemaking grant in 2016 to make this initiative viable.

Crib Point Community House Memorial GardenThe small garden next to the entrance of the Community House has been revitalised with a new bench seat and table being added as well as a memorial plaque. The Memorial Board identifies the past committee, staff and volunteers of the Community House. The bench seat and table are made from recycled waste plastics. The project will plant over the cooler months to complete the project.

Somerville Primary School’s Community RoomSomerville Primary School’s Community Room has been completed and made possible through Council’s placemaking grant funding. The Community Room will be used by members across the Somerville community.

Somerville Primary School’s philosophy is “that the key to a healthy, connected school is to have greater connections to their community”.

A Women’s PlaceA unique peninsula event ‘A Woman’s Place’ hosted a weekend filled with local stories in a local place (Rosebud) through pop-up theatre, workshops and conversations. The weekend was held in October 2015 along with the play ‘Button’ at the Southern Peninsula Arts Centre.

Sorrento Connected GardenA placemaking project in Sorrento provides a connected space between the Sorrento Community Centre, the skate park and the wetlands. The project has undergone a planning phase where they have conducted a community consultation. Planter boxes have been placed temporarily at the site to create a talking point amongst the community to engage them in the project.

Mornington Farmers Market Education and Chill Out ZoneThe Mornington Farmers Market Education and Chill Out Zone popped up late in 2015 at Mornington Park. Council’s placemaking grant was used to fund books and equipment so the Zone could provide an outdoor library experience. Books and magazines were tailored with a lifestyle, cooking and healthy eating theme that complemented the produce of the Farmers market. The pop-up Education and Chill Out Zone ran for markets from October until February 2016.

Collins Settlement Historic Site – Bass Strait ConnectionThis project sought to investigate the development of historic interpretation of the Western Sister at the 1803 Collins Settlement Site – walk track and viewing platform.

The site has been thoroughly investigated and photographic interpretations produced with contour maps of the lines of site and charted shared and restricted access tracks and clifftop fencing. A detailed design for an elegant viewing platform has been produced.

Pt Leo All Abilities Accessible BoardwalkThis project involves a staged approach to constructing an all abilities wheelchair accessible 80-metre-long boardwalk and observation platform at Pt Leo. The Disabled Surfers Association Mornington Peninsula has had a great win with the planning of the All Abilities Accessible Boardwalk at Pt Leo having received planning approval from DELWP enabling them to progress to stage 2.

3a Rosebud West Children’s ProjectIn 2016 a number of strategies were implemented to positively impact the lives of children in the Rosebud West community. This included the continuation of improvements in teaching practice in the Seawinds Kindergarten and Early Learning Centre, based on the Abecedarian approach. These improvements included a much greater focus on intentional planning for

learning, meeting individual children’s point-of-need, a greater awareness of the importance of one-on-one language interactions with children. The outcomes of the project were to reduced children’s vulnerability in the disadvantaged community of Rosebud West and to increase learning to be school ready.

Sports Meets ArtBittern Primary School’s staged development of the community quarter basketball court was completed in December 2015 with students and youth from the community being able to regularly enjoy a friendly game of basketball.

Cookery Workshops for our Holiday ProgramCookery Workshops were piloted in June and July in 2015 and then held in September and October. A recipe manual was developed for participants to work from (which was a huge success) and to take home and use for their own families. A complete meal consisting of four

courses was prepared by each participant along with a hot dessert for the communal meal. This gave the participants the confidence to try new recipes for their families and developed a tool by which they could improve the health and wellbeing of their families within a certain budget.