CERES Community Environment Park

CERES Community Environment Park is a 4.5-hectare (11-acre) not-for-profit environmental education centre and social enterprise hub located in urban Brunswick East, Victoria, Australia.

CERES Park
General information
Type4.5-acre Green land
LocationBrunswick East, Melbourne, Australia
Coordinates37.766°S 144.984°E / -37.766; 144.984
Opened1982

Established in 1982 on a former rubbish dump, CERES Park operates on land owned by Merri-Bek City Council. The CERES Park is one of four locations run by the governing body of CERES EARTH Ltd, trading as CERES.

CERES is registered as a company limited by guarantee and is governed by a voluntary Board. It provides a range of programs and services including environmental education programs and workshops, an urban farm and community gardens, cafe, grocery, plant nursery and various other social enterprises. Its charitable purpose is "protecting and enhancing the natural environment, including by providing information and education to increase understanding of human impacts on the natural environment".[1]

CERES (pronounced series) stands for Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies, though this longer version is not normally used. The name also connects with Ceres the goddess of agriculture in Roman mythology as a large part of the Park is dedicated to urban farming.

History

CERES Park is located on the banks of the Merri Creek, land that was occupied by the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people, prior to European invasion. The creek was subjected to heavy industrial use throughout much of the 20th century and the East Brunswick site was quarried for bluestone, and then eventually turned into a landfill for household and construction waste. The water became more polluted as a result of this. In 1982, some locals of the area suggested making use of the land to grow vegetables and make compost as part of a "work-for-the-dole" program. Shortly afterwards, invitations for school kids to learn about these emerging programs in green technology, recycling and organic farming. Along with Merri Creek Management Committee and Friends of Merri Creek, CERES and volunteers planted hundreds of trees and shrubs and lobbied governments to clean up the creek. The first Sacred Kingfishers which returned to the land were spotted in 1994. Ever since, the community park has been a place for education, practice and awareness for the environment and sustainability, as well as a location for social gatherings. The first tree was officially planted on the site by Dr Barbe Baker—founder of the Men of the Trees—on 16 September 1981.


Awards

Victorian Premier's Sustainability Awards 2017 – Education[2]

See also

References
  1. "CERES Rules and Purposes" (PDF). 14 October 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  2. Victoria, Sustainability. "2017 Education Winner". sustainabilityawards.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 13 February 2021.


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