11Y Tree Planting & Darebin Creek Cleanup

11Y Tree Planting & Darebin Creek Clean up Afternoon

On Tuesday, 25th October, 11Y completed their final project for Personal Development. A huge thank you and big congratulations to Sana, Karcicka and Henrietta for organising and implementing a fantastic tree planting and creek clean up afternoon. The girls worked hard to design and implement the day in partnership with the Darebin Community Garden Project and manager Peter Grenfell.

The sun was shining as 7H and students from VCAL went about the task of planting approximately 70 plants as well as cleaning up rubbish along the Darebin Creek which runs alongside the college. Students planted indigenous shrubs sourced from La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary nursery along the creek verge. 

It was a good place to plant as there was good overstory in the plot but little mid-story plants. It is hoped the plants will create habitat for small local birds. Students also conducted a clean-up along the creek banks where recent rains had left behind a lot of litter. Students picked up around 75 kilos of rubbish, that may have otherwise made its way towards the Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay.

7H were wonderful participants undergoing all tasks with effort and enthusiasm. Congratulations to Vero, Heidar, Filip and Tomas from year 7 who had the most rubbish collected for their year level. The overall winners with more than 30kgs of rubbish collected were Andreas, Haider, Roshan and John from VCAL Urban Harvest. Congratulations, what a fabulous effort!

It is hoped that the partnership between the college and Darebin Creek Management Committee (DCMC) can continue with further opportunities for habitat creation along the creek corridor, including within the school grounds. Thanks to Gabby and Rosa Neri for supporting and assisting with this amazing project.

Kim Gray 

Personal Development VCAL