Community Garden Archives - Southern Beaches Community Garden

by Jimmy Bua - 18 December 202118 December 2021

2021 Garden Christmas Party BBQ

The 2021 Garden Christmas Party BBQ was held in the garden on Friday 10 December. What follows is the contents of the email sent out by SBCG Membership Secretary Deb Powers (with just a bit of extra added for clarification purposes by yours truly). So, if you couldn’t make it this year, keep in mind the Australia Day Afrekete Festival will be happening later next month in the garden.

You definitely won’t want to miss all the dancing, food and libations and overall festive atmosphere of that one.

So, see you in the garden and here’s to a bigger and better 2022.

Now, About that Party

WOW😊

What a wonderful SBCG Christmas party we had. In all, the total numbers would be in the neighbourhood of around 50 members and their families.

The weather was perfect with temps in the mid to upper 20s and no humidity to speak of. Even the mozzies behaved for the night.

Everywhere I looked, people were smiling, laughing and eating. And after so much rain, all amidst some incredibly healthy and vibrant-looking garden plots. Such an amazing setting to have and share with the community.

Thank you everyone for your share plates. The range of food was just so good and eclectic. Everything from snags and

chicken to Annie’s ‘rice sausages’ and authentic Thai Green Payaya Salad. Between that and the many chips and dips, cheeses and numerous delicious desserts, everyone was spoiled for choice.

Thanks to Mary and Natalia for cooking the sausages, chicken and onions. In the end, it almost goes without saying, there was nothing left.

Thanks to Jim for the Christmas tablecloths and the decorations. They looked great and added to the festive cheer.

Thank you to everyone who joined the party. It was lots of fun.

To our members, prospective members, your families and friends – we wish you all a very joyous Christmas and a safe new year.

We have some great events coming up in 2022 and we look forward to seeing you at them.

Best Wishes,
Your SBCG Committee

by Jimmy Bua - 17 September 202117 September 2021

A Business Network Event to Remember

Wednesday night, the 8^th of September would be a business network event to remember for everyone lucky enough to have been able to attend Tugun’s growing Southern Beaches Community Garden.

GC Business Networking — Community Garden & Community Bankattend the Southern Beaches Community Garden’s hosted occasion.

Under clear, late summer, evening skies, the SBCG and its members opened up the grounds of their community garden for something unique. An expertly planned and executed gathering of local business and council members and passionate, civic-minded gardeners.

Councillor Gail O'Neill and Di Gunther — Councillor Gail O’Neill in attendance

Bendigo Bank’s Executive Assistant Maris Dirkx summed it up very succinctly in her following morning thank you email to the garden.

“The GC South Business Network event, proudly co-hosted by Southern Beaches Community Garden and Community Bank Tugun was a huge success last night with over 80 people enjoying the wonderful hospitality of the volunteers of SBCG.

Guests enjoyed a unique opportunity to mix and mingle under the stars with other local business and organisation representatives.

A BIG thank you to the volunteers of SBCG and their hard work to make the event such a success.”

In addition to what was expressed in her following day’s thank you email, Maris even went so far as to say the event raised the bar and the garden should be proud of itself as this was the first Business Networking Event staged at a venue that wasn’t licensed.

Garden volunteer — One of many volunteers for the big night

And in her short speech on the night, SBCG President Di Gunther was quick to give credit where credit was due. Namely, to the SBCG’s biggest sponsor Bendigo Bank and its Manager Allan Merlehan. As well as to Laura Gerber and Councillor Gail O’Neill for their ongoing support, so much of which has made the garden’s recent expansion project such a huge success.

Then she thanked the 200 plus garden members. Those who, day in and day out, do all the little things that add up to the garden’s ongoing success. Especially the members who cleaned, set up, unpacked, cooked, served, sang, picked up supplies, collected seedlings, prepared the market, served behind the bar, spoke, participated in the garden walks and took pictures.

Lastly, a special thanks went out to garden member Deb Power who not only led the night’s team of volunteers but also assumed the evening’s role of MC.

In short, it was a magical night.

The weather was beautiful, the garden looked spectacular, the Balter beer was cold, the food was delicious and the live music by Lauren from Youth Music Venture topped off the event.

Not surprisingly, the SBCG has been asked to host again next year. An invitation the SBCG was quick to accept.