By Raquel Mustillo
PROSPECTIVE Millicent North Primary School masterchefs will plate up in a state of the art facility following the construction of a new $80,000 kitchen and canteen.
The purpose-built culinary facility will include six work stations with electric cooktops and stoves, as well as a main tabletop to be used by teachers, sinks, refrigerators and freezers.
Partly funded by a $50,000 SA Health Healthy Towns Challenge grant, the remainder of the project will be funded through the State Government’s education economic stimulus package.
The project also includes the redevelopment of the school’s existing canteen, which was last upgraded around 20 years ago.
Millicent North principal Graham Slarks said the new development would complement the school’s existing food garden and provide students with a facility to cook fresh produce.
“The problem we have previously had was a lack of kitchen facilities at the school, which meant we could not provide cooking lessons,” he said.
“The new kitchen will allow students to use the garden, source their produce and make meals at school.
“The work stations have been designed to allow 26 kids in the kitchen at one time so entire classes are able to cook.”
Senior student Edie Easterby said the redevelopment would provide students with a space to learn essential culinary skills.
“It will be a good place for students to learn to cook and make food,” she said.
“We have never had anything like this before.”
The community-led project was one of five across the state to receive funding under this year’s Healthy Towns Challenge, a State Government initiative with $250,000 funding per round over four years.
Member for MacKillop Nick McBride congratulated the school for its initiative in seeking out the SA Health funding.
“This new kitchen will help students learn to cook health, nutritious food using produce that has been grown in the school’s garden,” he said.
“I hope the skills that these students develop will be used in the home and help them and their families make healthy lifestyle choices.
“I look forward to visiting the students to see the new kitchen in action.”
The project is expected to be completed early next year.
