2020/21 Mini Grant Winners

1. BEE AWARE – Wombat Care Bundanoon – Community Group (NSW): Caitlin led community education about local native bee species and their habitat needs including installing stingless bee hives.
2. FIRE RECOVERY – Kya’s Homeschool Project (NSW): 10-year old Kya supported Conjola communities recovery from fire by propagating native plants for wildlife, encouraging pollinators and sharing home grown produce.
3. B & B HIGHWAY – Kegworth Public School (NSW): Year 3 & 4 students created a garden featuring a sub-pod (composting system), pollinator attracting plants and a stingless bee hive to be a part of Sydney’s B&B highway.
4. THE ONE WHO CARES – Human Nature Projects (NSW): Elliot produced a short film to educate people about the important work that wildlife carers provide.
5. WILDLIFE SANCTUARY – Museum of Fire Junior Caretakers Program (NSW): The Museum will invited and nurtured local schools to transform the under-utilised space of the Museum grounds into a wildlife sanctuary.
6. UMBRELLA SPECIES – Nimbin Central Bushfood Regeneration – Nimbin Central P&C Group (NSW): Members rehabilitated their local bushland to promote habitat for umbrella species, e.g. adorable feathertail glider, koala, eastern whipbird and Richmond birdwing butterfly.
7. GLIDER HEROES – Corowa Public School (NSW): Students attended DIY workshops, constructing nesting boxes and planted food trees for their local squirrel glider population.
8. NATURE WALKS – Roots & Shoots Australia National Youth Leaders (TAS, QLD, SA and VIC): NYLC alumni developed a nature based education program featuring guided walks, resources, mindfulness exercises and take-away projects to engage youth with nature.
9. BEES ON FARMS – Morrissey Family Farm (QLD): The family improved their farm and boosted biodiversity by providing native plant species and nest sites specifically attractive to local bees – many of which nest in the ground.
10. ORGANIC POLLINATOR PARADISE – Shorncliffe Family (QLD): Conscious of the role of toxic chemicals in the decline of pollinator health and numbers, the Shorncliffe Family have championed organic native plants with a demonstration of pesticide-free farming.
11. SUSTAINABLE MICRO FARM – Kenmore South School (QLD): Students built their own mini farm including a chicken coup and a thriving vegetable garden!
12. GARDEN SHOWPIECE – Westbrook R&S Community Group (QLD): By partnering with the Toowoomba Botanic Gardens (Toowoomba council) the Toowoomba R&S group showcased sustainable gardening practices by creating a water-wise, wildlife friendly, Indigenous Garden and Seed Library,
13. FOR THE BIRDS & BEES – Environmental Action Group Westminster School (SA): This environmental action group sprung into action to create a garden and insect hotels to attract bees and birds, supporting their Year 7 education program.
14. CRAFTING FOR A CAUSE – R&S SA Community Group (SA): Creating warm blankets, sleeping bags and scarves for Adelaide’s homeless community, as well as animal bedding and pouches for wildlife in care, this crafty bunch worked with community networks to promote skills and education opportunities.
15. WOMBAT SCHOOL –  Diamond Creek Primary School (VIC): This fabulous incentive saw the school install modifications to welcome existing wombats while protecting school gardens and play areas from zealous digging, including raised garden beds and wombat gates in pre-existing fences.
16. SOLAR FOOD Victory Lutheran College (VIC): By installing solar powered composting cones this school transformed food waste into nutritious plant food.
17. LIZARD LOUNGE & BUTTERFLY HAVEN – Sherbourne Primary School (VIC): Mindful of the differing needs in the development of the threatened Eltham Copper Butterfly, students provided host plants for caterpillars and nectar filled flowers for butterflies, and top off the garden with a few lizard lounges to encourage reptiles too.
18. GARDENING FOR LIFE – South West Institute of TAFE School of Education (VIC): TaFE students developed skills in landscaping, garden design and plant identification but in building a sensory garden for their local primary school.
19. BRING ON THE BATS –  Wallington Primary School (VIC): Students worked with local community groups to install nest boxes and habitat to encourage (and monitor) mosquito-loving micro bats. 
20. COMMUNITY ROOFTOP GARDEN – Riverside Kensington Community Group (VIC): In involving local families to create a thriving edible rooftop garden in urban Melbourne, this project will developed a Seed Library & Rooftop Garden to grow tenant food.
21. NIGHTLIFE – Fordham Avenue Kindergarten (VIC): To introduce young minds to the nocturnal world, this preschool provided sustainable wind-up torches and teaching support to encourage preschool families to explore the world by night.
22. BINOWEE BUSHLAND – Watsonia Height Primary School (VIC): Inspired by meeting local indigenous elders, the junior school council planted a native garden nourished by a school compost system.
23. DIRT PROJECT – Chairo Christian School Pakenham Campus (VIC): Students designed recycled art pieces including nature frames, painted rocks and even a R&S Thank-you Banner ahead of making physical improvements for biodiversity and further establishing their vegetable garden with added support for local pollinators.
24. RESOURCE SAVVY – Lara Lake Public School (VIC): In their journey to becoming a ‘Resource Smart School,’ students implemented sustainable practises addressing composting, energy, water, biodiversity and food production.
25. FOREST CLASSROOM – Lyneham Primary School (ACT): Understanding the need for trees, students planted a school forest to combat climate change, sequester carbon and encourage wildlife.
26. TRADITIONAL EDIBLE GARDEN – Aboriginal Education Services (TAS): Under the guidance of an Aboriginal Education Specialist, West Ulverstone Primary School learnt sustainable land management including growing an indigenous edible garden.
27. PLANT PROPAGATION POD – Future Energy Team, Huonville High School (TAS): Recycling PET bottles as containers for native plant propagation, the Future Energy Team planted water-saving wicking beds, and invited local primary schools to student led workshops.

2019 Mini Grants Winners