Melbourne Australia

SFSF - Schools For a Sustainable Future
Joseph Natoli, SFSF Project Director, surrounded by happy, enthusiastic children
Maroondah City Council
January 2000



Maroondah City Council

whats new      whats old      about us      our stories      get involved      home
Environmental Projects
at Whitefriars College

Within the grounds of Whitefriars College there is a significant area of remnant bushland adjacent to the Mullum Mullum Creek. In order to raise people's awareness of the value of the local environment, the Whitefriars College Environment Committee was formed in 1997. The Committee has a membership of approximately 12 students with representatives from each year level.

Through its education and fundraising activities, the Committee has supported a number of environmental projects including the construction of indigenous gardens and an indigenous nursery and organic garden centre.

Indigenous garden and mini-wetland

Bushland Rescue students work in small groups on various environmental protection projects around the school.

One of these projects has been the development of an indigenous garden and mini-wetland. This project involved clearing some non-indigenous vegetation from an existing garden and planting the area with indigenous grasses and shrubs.

An existing concrete pond was lined with rocks and pebbles to enable planting of indigenous wetland plants. A small 'creek' was excavated and then lined with plastic and rock. A solar-powered water pump, pumps water from the pond into the creek which then flows back into the pond.

Students in the Year 9 Science elective, Bushland Rescue are involved in the implementation of these environmental projects. Other environmental projects being carried out by the students include the construction of nesting boxes, the implementation of a nature trail and involvement in Community Waterwatch.

Excursion to Applemint Organic Farm

The scope of Bushland Rescue has been extended beyond protection of the local bushland environment to include a study of the principles of Permaculture.

This study is facilitated by an excursion to Applemint Organic Farm located in The Patch in the Dandenongs. The farm is run by Caroline Smith from Australian Catholic University and her husband Aidan. Some Permaculture principles are being put in place at Whitefriars as an organic garden is developed in the Environment Centre which is being constructed in Term 1, 2000.

The Environment Committee and the students in Bushland Rescue have established a close and effective working relationship with the Planning and Policy Committee, the Parents' Association and the Maintenance Department. Cross-curricular links are being established with the involvement of the Science, Technology, SOSE and Arts faculties.

The success of the various projects is enhanced with the involvement of the Australian Catholic University and Schools For a Sustainable Future. The various environmental projects have not only been successful in making improvements to the local environment, they have also provided opportunities for students to develop their skills and interests in areas that have previously been unavailable to them.

Our next major project is to implement plans prepared by Melbourne Water for the construction of a wetland.

For more details on Whitefriars' environmental projects, please contact


Glenn Abblitt
Phone: (03) 9874 4422
Email: gabblitt@whitefriars.vic.edu.au

 
 
Top of Page
 

SFSF
Schools For a Sustainable Future

1 Curdies St.
E. Bentleigh Vic. 3165
Email: Joe Natoli
Ph: (03) 9579-7224     Fax: (03) 9579-6153      Mobile: 0411-568-523

 

Website designed & maintained by

 

 
 
© 2000 Schools for a Sustainable Future