Melissa Parke, Federal Member for Fremantle, and Minister for School Education, the Hon Peter Garrett MP, today enjoyed morning tea and a tour of the new kitchen facility and kitchen gardens at Spearwood Alternative School.

"It's wonderful to see the new facilities open and and the children clearly eager to be learning all about healthy eating habits," said Ms Parke. "The bonds of this already close-knit school community will grow even stronger through the tending, harvesting and preparation of the fruits of this kitchen garden." Spearwood Alternative School received $60,000 under the first round of the government's $12.8 milliom Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program to build new kitchen and garden infrastructure that will be used to teach students the benefits of growing , harvesting and cooking fresh graden produce.

East Fremantle, Palmyra and Harmony primary schools in the Fremantle electorate are also participating in the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program which has now funded 178 schools nationwide.