Gainmara Birrilee Pre-School has recently partnered with Contact to create a Bush food/veggie garden in the name of ‘The Janet Moore Legacy Project’.

Janet Moore sadly passed away this year and in her memory The Janet Moore Legacy Project was established.

Janet worked in Children’s Services and as a Head Teacher in Child Studies at TAFE. She was passionate about advocating for children in having quality early and middle childhood education.

Some of Janet’s other passions were gardening, the environment and reading, which is why her family agreed that setting up a veggie garden in a preschool in her name would be fitting for Janet’s legacy.

Gainmara Birrilee Preschool was established in 1974 as a Save the Children Fund Preschool and given back to the Brewarrina community in 1992 for self-determination. The Preschool has the three-year old’s attending Monday and Tuesday, and the four-year old’s on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and in both groups there are limited spaces.

Frayne Barker, the Preschool Director, said she had no real notice of Janet's legacy.

“It was a shock, but there were talks happening with Contact to establish a vegetable garden," Ms Barker said.

"What was amazing is, we were already seeking funding for a community garden, and this just came at the right moment. This is part of a bigger picture in what I’ve been trying to do to work with families for the betterment of the children."

“How nice it is that this lovely woman has left her legacy to us," Ms Barker said.

Frayne Barker in front of the area she hopes will become the Janet Moore Legacy Garden. PHOTO: Urayne Warraweena

The garden will initially be established by staff and community members and possibly have a partnership with the local job agency and other services.

The planting of the garden will be done by the children with the help of family.

“Once it is established, we can engage in many programs such as nutritional cooking from the produce that we grow and have parents come in to cook with their children,” said Ms Barker.

In order for The Janet Moore Legacy Project to get off the ground an additional $2,500 needs to be raised to be able to purchase equipment, plants and other expenses that will be needed to create the garden.