Grant Garden launch in Wodonga

8 July 2025

The launch event in Wodonga brought together friends and supporters of the five Neighbourhood Houses to launch the Wodonga Neighbourhood House Food Security Co-op.

For enquiries contact Edwina Bugge on 0409 021404 or email edwina@birhouse.com.au

An exciting step toward addressing food relief needs in Wodonga and surrounds, the Garden Grant event at Trudewind Rd Neighbourhood House saw friends and supporters of all five Neighbourhood Houses in Wodonga gather to launch the Wodonga Neighbourhood Houses Food Security Co-op. This Pilot project is funded through a Victorian Government Community Food Relief Grant.

The last few years have seen an increase in food relief access from Birallee Park Neighbourhood House with a clear need to increase the service provision in the area. The opening of the Food Relief grant was timely and opened the opportunity to broaden the food relief service and build on partnerships with other houses in the area.

The model of the project will enhance collaboration between the houses leveraging each house's strengths to build a stronger and more sustainable food system for our city. “We will be uniting around shared kitchens, gardens and pantries and putting people and place at the center of our response”. – says Birallee Park Neighbourhood House Manager, Edwina Bugge.

The project itself incorporates core community development principles; community participation, ownership, empowerment, access and equity, life-long learning, inclusion, networking, advocacy, self-help, and social action.

The morning tea was the first step to promote the project, and engage with the local community and recruit volunteers, and to ensure community are a part of the journey. As the project is in the developing stages further partnerships will develop, but the current project is being delivered as a collaboration with the five local houses: Birallee Park Neighbourhood House, Felltimber Community Centre, Trudewind Road Neighbourhood House, Baranduda Community Centre, & Bandiana Neighbourhood House.

For enquiries contact Edwina Bugge on 0409 021404 or email edwina@birhouse.com.au