Remote QLD member wins prestigious award!

In a remote town in Queensland, halfway between Mt Isa and Townsville, Teena Chappell is wearing a lot of hats. As the Coordinator of the Richmond Shire Outside of School Hours Care (OSHC), Teena and her team of educators have built a thriving Kitchen Garden Program in a community where access to resources can be a challenge.

Teena and her team were recently honoured with the Sarus Crane Award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Sustainable Future of the Southern Gulf Region’. This prestigious award highlights the teams’ important work in not only educating young minds but in bringing people together from across Richmond Shire.

Teena shared the wonderful Sarus Crane Award news with us, expressing her gratitude for the help she received from the Kitchen Garden Program support team. "My team and I would like to thank you all for the encouragement and guidance in bringing the Kitchen Garden Program to our service," she said. “We’re so honoured to have received this award for our work.”

The Kitchen Garden Program has become a gathering point for students and families alike. It’s a place where kids are growing their own food, learning about healthy eating, and discovering the power of environmental responsibility. And when the garden yields more veggies than the students can use? Teena ensures the surplus finds its way to the local Home and Community Care Program’s meals-on-wheels initiative, so the broader community can share the delicious harvest.

But Teena doesn’t stop there! Her commitment goes beyond gardening – she also drives the bus to take students home after school, then returns to run the after-school care program.

Teena took some time out from her busy schedule to answer some questions for us.

Teena, what inspired you to start the Kitchen Garden Program at Richmond Shire OSHC, and how have you seen it impact the students?

Teena: “I have always been passionate about children’s healthy eating habits. When I discovered the Kitchen Garden Program, I jumped on-board! Teaching children how to grow vegetables and then cook with the produce – this was an amazing opportunity for the service. We love seeing the children get excited about the planting, and watching the plants grow into food they can eat.”

How do you balance all your responsibilities, and what motivates you to keep pushing forward every day?

Teena: “I have a dedicated team of educators, Lorna and Anastacia, which makes all the difference. What keeps us motivated is seeing the children’s reactions to fresh healthy food – like when they pull up a carrot from the ground, wash and eat it straight away! Some parents commented that their children ‘don’t like carrots,’ only to be surprised when they see them happily munching on one at pick-up.”

What’s next for the Kitchen Garden Program? Do you have any exciting plans or projects you’re working on?

Teena: “We have a few exciting plans and projects ahead this year. Right now the children are learning about ‘natural and artificial’. The children have planted seeds – one set of seeds is growing with artificial light and tap water, while the other set is growing with natural light and rainwater. Which seeds will grow first? The children are super excited to find out! In the future, we have plans to build a market stall outside the service, so the community can help themselves to fresh vegetables.”

The Kitchen Garden Program at Richmond Shire OSHC demonstrates the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation’s Theory of Change, specifically the objective of enhancing community resilience, promoting social cohesion, and fostering a sense of belonging.