Healthy Eating Program – Picnic for the Park Fundraiser

The Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project and a team of their Leadership Table volunteers have organised a fundraiser for the Healthy Eating Food Program at Mooroopna Park Primary School.

The Fundraiser will see local people purchase hampers from Bill and Beats during the spring racing carnival to be shared at home and hopefully in small groups in parks.

The food program has already been a huge success since it started in April 2019 with students eating a variety of healthy cooked meals with plenty of fruits, vegetables and salads. Providing students with nutritious meals each day and changing their eating habits has had a profound impact on their ability to function at school each day.

“Up until the end of Term 1, 2020 (pre COVID) our attendance data had improved, to be the best it has been in the last 10 years” said Mr Hayden Beaton, Mooroopna Park School Principal.

The school budgeted for $1 per student per day, which equated to $30,000 for the year. With great local support, by the end of 2019 the actual cost of the program equated to just under fifty cents per day, per child.  Mr Beaton has been delighted by the support received from the community with Lighthouse providing many community links, brokering support from local organisations and groups including Plunkett Orchards, Foodshare, Mooroopna Bakery, Bakers Delight, Mooroopna Rotary and the Kiwanis Club.

“Everyone involved with The Park Café (as it’s now known) support the initiative in many ways, either through business partnerships, financial contributions or food donations” said Mr Beaton.

Lighthouse Community Develop Co-ordinator, Vicki Scott, recognises the benefits the Healthy Eating Program is having with the students, Lighthouse continues to work closely with the school to support the Park Café initiative.

“We are seeing many positive impacts of the program and while we would’ve liked to host another lunch at Bill and Beats (as per last year), COVID has made this impossible.  However, our fundraiser is still going ahead, just slightly different” said Ms Scott.

The school has also been recognised as a finalist for the Best Student Wellbeing Program in Australia, which will be announced later in the year.  Ms Scott said this was a great result for the school and everyone involved is very proud of this achievement.

“However, it will always be about improving learning outcomes for the students,’’ she said.

For more information on the Mooroopna Park Primary School – Picnic for the Park contact Vicki Scott 0419 345 768.  vscott@gslp.com.au