Ms JENNY AITCHISON (Maitland)—Congratulations to Slow Food Hunter Valley on the new native food garden at the Maitland-Rutherford Guides Hall. The garden was funded under the Federal Communities Environment Grant Program, sourced through the Federal Member for Paterson, Meryl Swanson MP. According to Slow Food Leader Anne Kelly, Amorelle Dempster led the process with support from Ian Clarke, Pauline Chesworth and Jarrad Long as the contracted landscaper. Many of the plants were sourced from Noel Jupp at Riverdene and the Maitland Woodturners produced and donated the plants signs. Last Sunday I was at the handover, and observed the 30 species of Australian native plants, reflecting the biodiversity of local indigenous foods used by Aboriginal people along the east coast and hinterland of New South Wales. Jill Norburn and Senior Guides prepared a scrumptious afternoon tea of freshly baked velvet mint bush scones using leaves from their own bush garden as well as many other delights. The finished project is the living result of countless hours of hard work and collaboration by a number of community groups and volunteers. The Guides will now look after the garden, monitor the plants growth, flowering and fruiting, and collect seeds for propagation.