Sustainable Futures

On a grey Friday morning in May we launched The Donvale Trail, a six-stop educational journey through the College campus which draws attention to the marvellous variety of plant and animal habitat in which we learn. The development of the trail and the signs along it were supported by a grant from Landcare Victoria, and it's part of our new Sustainable Futures elective for Year 10 students.

As we began, students and guests were welcomed by Head of Secondary Steve Venour; then our Primary and Secondary Enviro Captains gave an Acknowledgement of Country, the mayor of Manningham  Michelle Klienert spoke of her commitment to sustainability in all its forms, and, before we  set off on the walk, Vaughan Barras spoke with passion about the unique species of flora and the biodiversity of the Donvale site. As we walked the trail, stopping at each of the stations, he explained more of the environment in which we stood.

The trail ends at the Cross on the Hill, where indigenous Christian leader Brooke Prentis shared some beautiful words about the significance of what we were all about to do - plant murnong, or yam daisy - and led us in a unique prayer of dedication.

Finally the knowledgeable and indefatigable Chris Horn (our College horticulturalist) worked wonders explaining how murnong grows and then the students scattered the murnong among the scrub and bush grasses which grow beside the path to the Cross. The intention is that those murnong will be harvested and consumed in November by the Sustainable Futures students.

You can follow the trail here and catch a glimpse of the Trail launch in this video: