The Festival of Adult Learning

Lifelong learning anywhere

The Festival of Adult Learning, was celebrated at Bidwill Ag Farm, Chifley College - Bidwill Campus on November 26 with a Hangi feast for all.
Students, stakeholders and community came together to celebrate learning and moving forward.
Stories were shared, networks created, a name to a face at last, and discovering this spectacular farm in the middle of Mt Druitt. 

African drumming workshop

The event began with the beat and rhythm of Sarah's African drumming work shop which created a festive atmosphere and some fun for all of those who had a go.

 Anna held a workshop demonstrating different mulches, the benefits, and other displays. Anna made a delicious pesto from rocket which demonstrated how quick and easy it is to make this healthy addition to pasta for a salad. 

Kerry Evans TAFE WSI Director of Equity, acknowledged country to start official proceedings.

Di Giblin, CEO of Australian Council of State School Organisations welcomed stakeholders and guest speaking of her long association with TAFE Outreach and the numerous people who have gone on from TAFE Outreach to achieve "many amazing and different things" . 

Prue Car the labor candidate for Londonderry and a strong advocate for TAFE and the local area presented awards to stakeholders and students.

Rob Mann, WSI Head teacher of Environmental Studies, said it was "A celebration of how horticultural skills at their most basic are life skills and from them communities can grow, an opportunity to emphasis the culture in horticulture".

This spectacular celebration of community coming together was completed with an outstanding, delicious feast from the Hangi for all. Many who attended bought fruit, cakes, salads to share.
Trish Spillane, key organiser of the event summed it up saying "Overall an event that brought so many of us together from all different walks of life, but with a feeling of great harmony, energy and community spirit."

November 26 Hangi @ Bidwill - Festival of Adult Learning

Anna's Pesto at Anglicare

Today at Anglicare Mt Druitt Anna showed us how easy it is to make pesto with a bunch of rocket picked from the garden, salt and pepper, olive oil, garlic and Parmesan cheese. We cooked pasta and enjoyed this delicious pesto with pasta. We could have added pine nuts, or sunflower seeds, whatever your budget allows.
What an easy healthy dinner. It can be used for pizza toppings or a spread.
We also planted some corn, beans, zucchini and lemon grass seeds in the shade house, so we can plant them out when frosts are over.
At Bidwill Ag farm, we planted corn, pineapple salvia pieces divided, And cuttings of curry plant.
We also pruned the roses.

The Magic of Weeds

Sowing with Trish at Fusion

Today at Fusion in between the showers, we sowed corn, beetroot, assorted basil, apple cucumber, nasturtium and parsnip seeds, and planted lettuce, chards and leek seedlings. The nasturtium will fall over the brick walls to soften the hard edges. They are bright, pretty, red, orange and yellow, and you can eat the flowers and petals. Lastly we have hundreds of marigolds coming up from seed we collected and broadcast around the garden beds. around! All very exciting. Seeds rule!!!

Weeding and Pruning at Fusion

Some rose pruning and weeding plus sowing seed at Bidwill Ag farm. We also planted pineapple salvia, cabbages and curry plant cuttings in our new no-dig garden. It is a very exciting time of year with Spring just around the corner. Everything is coming to life...so exciting!

Harvest at Fusion

The other exciting thing we did at Fusion was harvest. Too often veggies and herbs don't get harvested defeating the purpose of all the hard work. Today we harvested ALOT of flat leaf parsley which is perfect for tabouli, rosemary, kale, dill and radish's. Everyone took some home and there is plenty for TAFE Outreach students who cook with this produce in the Fusion kitchen.
TAFE Outreach goes out into the community and helps to engage individuals who learn life time skills and some go onto new pathways that change their lives.
Too good to lose!

Mt Druitt TAFE Outreach Celebrate Harmony Day 2014

Mt Druitt TAFE College Harmony day setting up - another big celebration in Mt Druitt, the place to succeed!
The TAFE Outreach Pathways to Community Services classes have been organising harmony day events at Mt Druitt College for many years. Every year the event has its own flavour dependant on the organisers. The only consistency is that is is always an event that is enjoyed by the college community and everybody learns. Fun and learning, good combo!

TAFE Course For Green Thumbs At ANGLICARE

Mt Druitt Outreach works productively with Anglicare on a number of programs building community capacity using adult education strategies to engage participants in further education and work. 
"Participants will learn the basic skills needed to grow a healthy vegetable garden over the eight week TAFE course. Creating a sensory garden, learning about organic pesticides and growing your own herbs and vegetables are some of the topics covered.
Located in an industrial part of Mt Druitt, the veggie patch is opened to anyone in the community who is interested in learning how to grow their own fresh fruits and vegetables, and is part of ANGLICARE Sydney’s Sustainable Living program.
“The Community Garden is a place for people to come and engage with others in their community. It breaks down social isolation and brings people together, sharing skills, ideas, recipes and forming networks,” says Janine Wall, ANGLICARE coordinator.
“Being enrolled in TAFE and receiving a certificate at the end of the term can also be empowering. Quite often this can lead to further studies or employment.”
Trish Spillane is a horticulturalist who has been teaching at the community garden on behalf of Mt Druitt TAFE this year. Trish explains that gardening can grow more than fresh fruit and vegetables. It can lead to learning valuable life skills and friendships also."

Read more about one of the outstanding programs

The Mt Druitt Legends celebration of the year!

November 27th was the day for all of us to come together and celebrate our achievements of the year. What better way to do this than a hangi feast in true style. Dave from Bidwill Highschool was our Hangi hero for the day.
It all began with Dave arriving at the farm 6am to light the fire in the pit for the hot embers that will cook our feast.
In the space between 6am and 11am there was plenty of action. Volunteers arrived to help feed the animals, set the space up to eat and present awards to students. Chairs were set up for the drumming workshop JJ from the Blue Mountains was orchestrating.

Project participants arrived early to help us prepare the food for the hangi. This involves wrapping food in foil, we had potatoes, pumpkins, sweet potatoes and four legs of lamb, 2 legs of pork and a large piece of rump! Elisa created a delicious dish made with a whole pumpkin, hollowed out seeds and stuffed it with meat and onion.

Elisa"s pumpkin

Fruit platters were made, dips, crackers, cakes and lots of goodies were set out.

The celebration was kicked off in style with the rhythm of JJ's beat and all of those who participated in his african drumming work shop. Alot of those who attended, had a try on one of the drums or some of the percussion instruments. It was my first try and it was so much fun! I would like to see more of these work shops in our projects, it is such a fun way to connect with others.
The Drumming beats were followed by presentation of skills certificates and Certs of appreciation to those who give so much to our communities and offer their skills selflessly.
Ed Husic Labour Federal MP for Chifley presented some of these awards.

Dave putting hot rocks in food baskets

We heard stories of those who have moved on in their lives through Tafe Outreach. It was apparent the empowerment and vital presence Tafe Outreach gives to our communities. When the awards were over we crowded around the hangi site and watched Dave and Hugo unveil the feast! They shovelled the soil, removed the wet towels and hessian sacks, to expose the baskets of abundant food. The heat coming from that pit was impressive.

Hugo and Dave cautiously lifted the baskets of food and everyone helped carry back platters of meat and vegies for us to feast on. Georgie, Ofa and Elisa were most generous in using their skills to cut meat and prepare vegies for eating...the food was on for all! 

JJ's drumming workshop

Putting the food into the pit

We had Principals, politicians, PCYC police from Shalvey, teachers and students celebrating together, sharing stories, making connections, but most of all having alot of FUN!!! 

Unveiling the feast

MT Druitt Legends Invite you to Celebrate

Nov 27 WEDNESDAY 11AM – 2PM Bidwill High School Bidwill Ag Farm Daniels Rd, Bidwill Hangi - Weather permitting.
celebrate our acheivements - connect with community - share your stories & what your projects have achieved.
Share ideas, resources and discover opportunities.
Contribute to creating a bountiful, productive community.
African drumming workshops with JJ from the Blue Mountains.
Contribute to the feast - bring a salad, cake or whatever you like!.
Mt Druitt TAFE Outreach 2013 building communities

Coowarra transformation.

Coowarra is an after school care facility in St Claire. The Greening Coowarra project started this year by a dedicated group who were keen and ambitious to transform the sad surroundings the children had to contend with. This group consisted of retirees and those of different origins all keen to learn new skills and participate in building community capacity.
To start with we had a clean slate, ie a very sad stony island bed which greeted you at the entrance, and in the beds surrounding the car park there was nothing but dry, stony, harsh looking garden beds.
As with other groups, each week we learned new skills in gardening, explored community and the capacity we all have to embrace and build up networks to connect and enhance where we live.
Work soon started, each of the team using their skills and knowledge to progress and respecting each team members capabilities. It is being involved in these projects that I have realised the importance of acknowledging each of our skills and strengths. Some of us have physical strength, or good leadership skills, good at technology or research, finding resources, good communications, good humour and many more traits that create a good team.
We needed good fertile soil, mulch and plants to get started. Penrith council responded positively to our request and delivered a truck load of mulch and one of soil, we were very appreciative of their support. We worked hard and spread soil and mulch which transformed this sad space before we had even planted. We started planting with pineapple salvias along the fence of children's playground to give them the sensory experience of "squeeze and smell."
Loy one of the participants suggested we place besa blocks around Island bed at entrance and children could plant herbs and vegies into them. This we did and the children showed their thanks by placing painted stones on top of them and making artificial flowers with spikes from all recycled materials. This inspired us to push on, the children showing response. In the island bed we planted a lemon scented cypress when squeezed, a marigold that smells of passion fruit when leaves are rubbed, and a gardenia for sweet fragrance when in flower. Wow, what a transformation the group had made. It was heartening to see enthusiasm from staff.
Every week someone would bring cake or biscuits to share with group as we discussed ideas and plans over a cuppa.
Robin, Trish, Trevor, and Margaret often arrived with hoards of plants they had dug up from their garden. This generosity is what transformed this space and encouraged us to take this project seriously and not let it dwindle away.
So we held a meeting with Autumn Leaf neighbourhood and listed what the group needed to support
them when I departed to other projects. Tools, keys, taps were all discussed and the group were told that talks would be organised every few weeks on gardening so they could keep learning new skills.
As a group it was discussed the importance of projects like Coowarra and not letting them go back to what they were. If our communities build up with a connection of generous spirited people like Coowarra, we will be enhancing our surroundings everywhere, which in turn feeds peoples' souls, gives community members ownership and pride. This in turn can reduce crime, build up community capacity and yes...change the world! Little steps forward, but we are on our way.
In this group we had Robyn, Trish, Trevor barrowing and hacking into the concrete like earth, Margaret and Lou planting, Loy giving direction and overview of project, Shirley making up brilliant posters of our days working in the garden, Ahdi offering wise input to discussions and being our hoser of the garden with Shirley.
Penrith Council have supported us with mulch and soil, Autumn leaf community centre have provided tools, Yates with fertilisers and plants provided by students and residents of Blue Mtns who support these projects.
I will be meeting with Coowarra group in coming week to review the project and talk about ongoing activity.
At the end of this term, all of our projects are coming together at Bidwill Ag farm to share ideas, resources and stories...this is where we grow together and become empowered as a community.
And it is fun at the same time!

Celebrating the Mt Druitt Legends

We welcome all participants of the groups across Mt Druitt to celebrate our achievements at:

• Bidwill High School Bidwill
• Ag Farm Daniels Rd, Bidwill
• From 11-2pm

Come and celebrate our projects and connect with community.
Share your stories and what you have achieved in your projects.
We will be holding a hangi, weather permitting.
This gathering will be a feast. We welcome your contributions, bring a salad, cake or whatever you would like.
For those who have always wanted to have a go on the African drums, JJ from the Blue Mountains will run a fun workshop for some rhythm and sound.
This is an opportunity to connect with others, who are also contributing to creating a bountiful, productive community, to share ideas, resources and opportunities which often materialise when people come together.
Hope we see you there.
Mount Druitt the place to succeed!

Overview of Mt Druitt Legends' worth

"In the evolution of civilisation, it is well known that the role of plants reaches far beyond food, fibre and medicine"
Mt Druitt Legends have demonstrated this throughout their projects. Installing gardens, growing food, learning about sensory gardens and their therapeutic benefits, learning life time skills, working as a team, becoming aware of community support and resources is way beyond  "just gardening."
Through these projects, community surroundings are enhanced with colour, shade, foliage, fragrance and food, whilst drawing community members together in a positive environment and learning skills to sustain their lives and feel empowerment.
In a time of high tech and a rapidly changing world, there are many of us who can feel intimidated, left behind and frozen in time,...unsure of how and what they can do to feel confident and able to make life time choices to move forward and embrace life positively.
Participating in these projects, getting your hands dirty in the process of planting, weeding, nurturing, harvesting , working as a team, gaining support, can be the journey to uplift an individual and realise their real worth. From here, they may have discovered the pathway they desire to continue further study and keep moving forward.

Mt Druitt Legends story

Mid 2011 Mt Druitt TAFE outreach started gardening projects in the community, using horticulture as a tool to engage participants. In this process community members are re engaged with learning, learn life time skills, beautify school/community sites, grow food, form networks and support each other.
All types of gardening skills are taught from pruning, soils, growing from cuttings and seed, to starting a new garden.
Team skills are utilised to work together and resource materials and items to sustain projects. This creates an awareness of community and the support and capacity it has.
As Audrey Hepburn once said, "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow" this is true for all of us and our communities.
Emerton Wash House was one of the first projects, followed by Tregear Primary School.
Emerton WH manager approached MD TAFE OUTREACH coordinator and asked if there was a course that involved gardening to try and create aesthetics and draw woman together in a safe, learning environment. Of course this site had a lot of potential and the Outreach project began with great enthusiasm. Woman of different ages and origins joined the group and slowly gardens were installed, paths created, a water feature installed and a different class painted murals on the fence palings.
All of this was possible with cooperative team efforts, donations from Amber pavers, free mulch from local arborists, cash donations from Blue Mtns Retirement Village residents who raised money by raffles, free plants from community members and Blacktown council, and free furniture picked up from council throw outs. This project has been a wonderful success and is maintained by volunteers. The small courtyard had nothing, but today is a very pleasant, colourful and reflective space, where one can sit and relax to the trickling sound of water from the water feature. This is a great example of creating a space, that once was bare, but now portrays colour and serenity to feed our souls.
If we continue this journey of Growing together and learning life time skills, whilst creating beauty in our communities, we can also change the world!

Tregear Primary school has been a very exciting project starting mid 2011, with a group of parents, grandparents and community members. The school Principal at the time was very enthusiastic and supportive in starting a project. His vision was to beautify the main school entrance used, to make it more welcoming and give ownership to students, teachers and parents/grandparents.
We had a group of about 10 to 15 since it began. Each week students would learn some theory about gardening/horticulture, or vocational units exploring community, resources, different pathways to progressing in life and identifying the skills and worth of each individual.
Stories and conversation are exchanged as we carry out the practical gardening tasks, working as a team while learning life time skills and at the same time beautifying the school grounds.
Students received TAFE certificates for their participation and it became evident that this group were keen to start Horticultural studies. With positive support and collaboration between MD Outreach coordinator Jude Cooke and Blue Mtns head teacher of Environmental studies Rob Mann this became possible. An intro Cert 1 to horticulture began and currently students are coming close to completing Cert 11 in Horticulture. Through this journey students have built two retaining walls, adding aesthetics and transforming the entrance. Mulching, planting, propagating, seed collecting pruning, id of plants, weed id, using a dumpy level to obtain levels, constructing a propagation area with irrigation installed, and building compost bays. This is only part of it, but throughout this project we have used recycled materials as much as possible. The team efforts and cooperation between students has been an inspiration and makes you believe we can change the world if we work together.
The current Principal Richard Ford has been very supportive in our ongoing progress, this is so important for these projects to succeed. Stakeholders in this project have been Blacktown council giving us plants, local arborists mulch, Blue Mtns Tafe with building materials, plants etc, Yates provided fertilisers, and community members donating plants and their precious time.
The group is currently near completion of a propagation area which was previously a toilet block. It was used for chooks but that came to an end when it was too demanding to upkeep them.
We used a dumpy level to find levels on site, removed weeds, lay plastic and covered with gravel to keep weeds at bay and provide drainage. Irrigation is installed, and we are currently building structure to hold shade cloth over the site. Timers have been installed run by battery so watering can continue over weekends and holidays.
By installing this propagation area, we will grow plants from seeds and cuttings we collect, share and exchange with other projects,
It is hoped that we involve teachers and students by bringing it into the curriculum. Our children need to learn from a young age how important it is to have plants in our lives. The shade, shelter, beauty, fragrance and food they provide for our health and to feed our souls.
A passion fruit was planted last year and provided us with a bounty of fruit, and lush greenery on the fence. Sadly we cut it back as were told a new fence was being constructed, but this is yet to happen. But we persevere and continue to learn, work as a team, explore community resources to aid our project, and build a school community that will benefit all who are a part of it.
"Be a pebble, make a ripple!"