Over the past two and a half years, Calare Public School has worked with local Indigenous elders, the school's Aboriginal Education Consultative Group and the Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council to design and develop an inclusive Indigenous garden, showcasing bush tucker and significant symbols of Wiradjuri and other Aboriginal lands.

After providing initial funds towards the project through its Community Partnership Program, Cadia decided to host a Schoolyard Blitz involving around 30 Cadia volunteers, who worked with the students and teachers to bring the garden to life.

The blitz involved the establishment of a yarning circle using rocks, logs and a crushed granite path in the outline of a platypus, as well as developing native garden areas, including a bush tucker garden.

Calare Public School principal, Stephen Bingon, said the Indigenous garden would be an area for all students, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to embed Aboriginal culture into their learning experience and provide an area to connect meaningfully to culture and the land.

"The garden will be a place of learning in the school, and will also be used for celebrations. The construction of the garden has involved the whole school community, strengthening relationships and building community spirit," Mr Bingon said.

Cadia general manager, Aaron Brannigan, said the blitz was an initiative of Cadia's Workforce Engagement program, which aims to provide positive opportunities for the Cadia workforce to give back to the community by getting involved in environmental and community programs.

"This has been a wonderful community program to be involved in, as we had the opportunity to work with all of the students at the school to create this new learning space and provide students a sense of ownership of the garden," Mr Brannigan said.

Materials were sourced from Cadia, local nurseries and local suppliers.

Pigot's Mid Western Mini Mix, Sand and Soil donated the concrete, mulch and crushed granite.

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