Wodonga West Primary School’s Lachlan Hillas, 10, gave NSW Governor Marie Bashir some jam from the school’s Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program. Picture: TARA GOONAN
TEN-year-old Lachlan Hillas wooed the state’s Governor with his berry jam and it clearly worked.
Marie Bashir was guest of honour at the Albury Lions Club’s garden party held at Albury’s Botanic Gardens on Saturday.
The first woman to be appointed Governor of NSW, Professor Bashir was clearly taken by Wodonga West Primary School’s produce, the tasty result of its Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden.
So much so that the she handed him a card with her number to call to visit Government House whenever Lachlan was next in Sydney.
“We might take her up on her offer,” Lachlan’s mum Jacqui said.
“It seemed very genuine and was really lovely of her.”
The jam the Governor chose will be among the produce displayed when Wodonga West attends Wodonga’s Harvest Festival on March 16.
There were more than 100 Border charities at the party which aimed to promote local groups.
“I love days like this because it reinforces my pride in what Australia is all about,” Professor Bashir said.
“I’ve travelled across many countries over the many years since I graduated in medicine.
“But the thing about Australia that’s so wonderful is its people, and the indigenous spirit that somehow casts a beautiful feeling across the country.”
Chairwoman of events Ruth Ellis was delighted by the crowds at the event.
As a relatively new Border resident, moving here five years ago, she said she understood the need to promote the Border’s charities.
“Because we’re a fast growing area there are a lot of new people like myself who aren’t aware of what’s available,” Mrs Ellis said.
During her visit to the Border, the Governor also visited Hilltop, Fight Cancer Foundation’s new accommodation centre in Albury.