General News
21 August, 2025
School’s garden of harmony
MOSSMAN State High School’s reconciliation garden has been officially commissioned.
The garden was developed with the use of a grant through the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA).
The garden is a “beautiful, inclusive space and has been designed to celebrate all cultures and serve as a shared community space – a place where healing, learning and connection can take root and grow. Open to all, the garden represents the spirit of reconciliation and unity that continues to strengthen within our school and wider Douglas Shire,” says the school’s newsletter.
The garden started as a passion project and the brainchild of the school’s much-loved “ag plot guru” Neil Pacey. With his vision and design, and the grant opportunity identified by staff member Elliot Davidson, the school was given approval to apply – thanks to an already well-established partnership with NIAA, formed through the successful junior ranger program delivered in collaboration with Jabalbina.
School partnership facilitator Harry Cobb took the lead with the project and identified Rickie Burchill, an incredibly talented local landscape gardener, whose work honoured the spirit and intent of the design and brought Mr Pacey’s original concept to life.
Jabalbina played a key role in the project -and was made even more special with the help of past Mossman SHS students who returned to contribute their skills while completing traineeships.
At the official opening earlier this month local Elders and Traditional Owners, cluster primary school leaders and various community representatives planted a native species in the garden – “a living symbol of unity, healing and respect”.
Read More: Mossman
