Malibu makeover a gift

The spirit of giving was in the air last Wednesday when a Safety Bay school received the makeover of a lifetime.

Malibu School was selected by Bunnings from projects across the State to turn a few garden beds into a welcoming garden for staff and students to enjoy.

The school supports students from early childhood to Year 12 with intellectual and physical disabilities, sensory impairment, challenging behaviours and autistic spectrum disorders.

Bunnings supplied a variety of items as well as 30 employees to get the job done in just one day including fruit trees, planter boxes, a new barbecue, a worm farm, fencing, kids gloves and a chicken coop.

The project originally started from just one email sent by education assistant Jane Williamson who had some big ideas for the garden.

“I was a bit cheeky and just asked for everything I wanted and I thought if we could just get one of those things that would be great,” she said.

The activities co-ordinator at Rockingham Bunnings responded and entered the school into the Statewide makeover selection before it was chosen earlier this year.

“It was amazing, we’ve been pretty overwhelmed ever since,” Ms Williamson said.

“We can cook from it, sell the produce, preserve it. Whatever we have got will be teaching the kids in one way or another.”

Principal Noelene Mason said the garden project was part of the specialist care for students. “I’m very excited about it and it wouldn’t have happened without people who are passionate like Jane,” she said.

“It was great to get out with staff, the kids and the families and enjoy being in a learning community space together.”

Students, parents and staff and enjoyed a sausage sizzle kindly supplied by Bunnings.