News

Vale Clare & Carmel Ryan

Edenhope College would like to offer condolences to the family and friends of Clare and Carmel Ryan who both passed away recently.

Both Clare and Carmel were former teachers at the Edenhope Consolidated School.

Clare taught for many years at Edenhope Consolidated School in the early years area, concentrating on phonics which is once again being embraced as an effective way for young students to learn how to read.

She had a huge impact on many students learning as well as mentoring various young teachers who came to the area.

Carmel spent a long time teaching at the small schools of Langkoop and Poolaigelo close to where she lived and then towards the end of her career she taught at the Edenhope Consolidated School and finally Apsley.

Clare and Carmel were well respected for their individual contributions to education in our area. We thank them for their efforts and recognise the impact that they had on many people's lives.

May they Rest in Peace

Junior Judging Day at Lucindale

On Tuesday, the 6th of august, 120 year 7-9 to students from schools in the southeast of SA and southwest of Vic attended a Junior Judging Day at the Lucindale Area School. The day was organised by the South East Show Societies, to promote junior judging at local shows. The day was focused on developing skills to be able to judge, goats, poultry, merinos, meat sheep, fleece, and cattle. 

We learned at least one valuable piece of information at each station. At the goats we learned about the two main breeds of goats in Australia, and we learned that to get the best meat is to cross breed. At the poultry we learned that soft feathered poultry are used for meat and eggs, and hard feathered poultry originate from Asia and are fighting birds. For the merinos we learned to always be aware of the micron and length of wool, so that the right sheep are entered. With the merino fleece we learned the wool breaks can be caused by lambing and dramatic changes in diet. We also learned that the colour of wool affects the way it’s classed. Bright white is the ideal colour. At the meat sheep we learned about the importance of their structure and walking and having a wide muzzle to graze. Cattle was our last station and we learned about the importance of the stance and walk when it comes to judging. We also learned the neck extension is important determining how the head is held.

During the day we also learned lots about judging in general, we learned to always be confident with comments and to have a consistent judging process when comparing animals, e.g. start at the feet then rear to back line and finish at the head. We learned to say 4th never last (to keep it positive). Also to look at each animal from different angles to be able to fully examine the animal.

We would like to thank Mrs Rainsford for taking us as well as the South East Show Societies and all the expert speakers who made the day very informative and fun. We are looking forward to using these skills in local shows.

Kate, Isabel, Ruby, and Maggie

Edenhope Ag Students

Science Week

Ms Farren organised a day where students meet people who are passionate about their work with nature. The Department of Environment, Energy and climate Action showed how they assess and take measurements when deciding to carry out a burn.  Year 7-10 students used the Fuel Moisture Meter, Kestrel and a field guide to make an overall fuel hazard assessments of the area near the back swamp. The students viewed a CFA burns table to simulate a bush fire that showed the effect topography, terrain, slope and wind had on fire behavior and participated activities that modelled firefighting operations.

The primary students had a presentation from Bronwyn Perryman a representative from The South-Eastern Red-tail Black Cockatoo Team. They were informed about the ‘Kid’s helping Cockies program,’ which is a collaboration between zoos and schools to help save the endangered South-Eastern Red-tail Black Cockatoo. Bronwyn described what they look like, where they live, what they eat, their young, habits etc and what we can do to help them to survive. Students will assist the program later in the year. They will collect stringy bark seed, propagate the seed at school and then plant the seedlings out at sites frequented by Red Tailed Black Cockatoos, as a future food source.

Local Landcare facilitator Bindy Lees who has been working with Zoos Victoria on the Wimmera program shared her knowledge about saving the Golden Ray Blue Butterfly and donated some creeping boobialla plants that the students planted around the yarning circle to help create habitat and food for future generations of the threatened butterfly species. 

Gloria Freeman a representative from the Kowree Field Naturalists took the students on a guided walk through the Edenhope Flora and Fauna reserve and explained how volunteer groups can aid the survival of species.

The Field Naturalists help to both maintain the reserve for both locals and tourists to enjoy. Recently a mosaic trail was created with tiles depicting various creatures that occur in the block to prompt people to build on what their current knowledge is and explore other areas that they were not previously familiar with. Community art and the environment have proven to be complimentary and are enjoyed by all.

It is important to maintain Biodiversity. Biodiversity is is the term used to describe the variety of all living things. Biodiversity makes human life on Earth possible. It provides many benefits, including food, medicines and industrial products. It supplies clean air and water, and fertile soils.

Australia is home to more than one million species of plants and animals, many of which are unique. About 82% of our mammals and 93% of our frogs are found nowhere else in the world.

Over the last 200 years, the Australian environment has been modified dramatically. Australia has lost 75% of its rainforests and has the world's worst record of mammal extinctions.

If we all do a little bit to help the environment hopefully we can help to preserve what we have for future generations to enjoy.

Thank you Ms Farren & Miss Craig for organising special, practical activities for us all to be involved with.

Miss Craig & Mrs Freeman