Hope grows for cleaner future

By Lia Bichel
BUDDING environmentalists at Tooradin Primary School have been rewarded for their efforts to keep Australia beautiful.
The school received a “Keep Australia Beautiful’’ award, from the organisation of the same name and Scholastic publishing, for setting up a sustainable garden earlier this year.
The idea was sparked by principal Marj Scarce, said environment and sustainability coordinator Kristie Young. It became reality when students, staff and volunteers transformed an unused area of the school ground into a sustainable garden with native plants.
“We had a full day set aside, and volunteers helped every child plant at least one plant, so when students leave the school, they leave something there that lasts,” Ms Young said. “The students love it. It’s an area for them to enjoy and have some ownership over.”
Tooradin Primary was the only school in Victoria to receive a finalist award, Ms Young said. The award is one of a number the school has received this year for environmental achievements.
Ms Young said staff and students would continue projects to cut the school’s carbon footprint and eventually make it fully sustainable.
Future projects include fitting solar panels on the school roof, setting up an 85,000-litre underground water-harvesting system, and installing waterless urinals.