General News
21 May, 2025
Green thumbs rewarded
Nearly three years after its inception, and two years from a successful grant application, the funding body behind Gilgandra’s Community Garden toured the site on Friday, May 16, 2025.
The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal’s (FRRR) NSW grant program manager, April Merrick, along with Queensland counterpart, Marjolein Righarts, toured the fruits of community gardeners labour at a special morning tea event. Also in attendance to celebrate the ongoing success of the garden were other community groups and organisations that have supported the gardens such as Gilgandra Shire Council, Dubbo Landscaping, and Castlereagh Concrete and Sheds.
In 2023, Gilgandra Community Garden successfully applied to FRRR for a $33.684 grant. The project began with an initial 10 member group in 2022.
Founding member Jennie White welcomed the group to the garden and thanked all for their input to making the project a success.
Gilgandra Shire Council’s activation and communications Manager, Merscia Kouroulis, said the garden project came along at an opportune time to leverage other council works in the area, such as the activation of the Gilgandra Cultural Precinct, and outdoor works at the Coo-ee Heritage Centre.
The area surrounding the gardens now has a feature mural wall, a large wood fence hiding council infrastructure, and a new garden shed (which also recently received some old shelving from the library).
April Merrick from the funding body said FRRR was very happy to fund the project application to establish a community garden. “We know that community gardens are more than just a garden, they bring diverse people together to share and learn about growing food.
“The garden has become a destination for the site and the establishment of the garden has economically contributed to local businesses,” she said.
While some of the garden’s plantings, including a good crop of chives, are ‘ripe’ for the picking, Mrs White said the community should feel free to respectfully take from the garden.
Residents and visitors are also encouraged to take in its natural atmosphere as a place of connection and peace.
