News for Schools

Wantirna College students help out in the Dandenong's

In its sixth year, the Enviro Corps partnership between Wantirna College and the Dandenong Ranges National Park keeps going from strength to strength. Wantirna College offers a number of Year 9 community-based partnerships as part of the Enviro Corp's Program.

The students from Wantirna again proved themselves to be enthusiastic, committed and reliable. During the year they tackled a variety of environmental issues in the Doongalla Homestead Picnic Ground, near The Basin. They quickly became proficient with secateurs to prevent English Ivy from growing up trees and to prune Hydrangeas to encourage spectacular spring blooms. They used their muscles to hand-pull Cestrum, creating piles higher than they were. Some skilful stacking and jumping ensured that the piles remained contained and compacted, to prevent future spread. Despite working throughout the year in both blistering heat and frosty mornings, the students used team-work and positive attitudes to remain motivated for the tasks at hand.

At the end of Term 4 the students were introduced to GPS technology to record data on the sites where they worked, especially the successful removal of Ivy. This information will be testament to the hours of work that they contributed to the park in 2008.

Throughout the year they were wonderfully supported by their teacher Mr Paul Brennan, who tirelessly organised trips to the Dandenongs as a part of the school timetable.

Thanks go to the entire group, Parks Victoria staff look forward to working with Wantirna College and other schools again as a part of the 2009 Enviro Corps program.

Added January 2009