Environment News

MCA Bee Update

From: Jake Edye, Jack Lowe, Ash Bishop - Year 10 LMYELN Representatives

As we enter November, the MCA bee project is well underway. After a final fundraiser raffle, held on grandparents’ day last term, we have now raised enough funds to purchase the remaining 6 hives. This will bring us to our goal of providing the school with 8 native stingless bee hives, one for each of the 8 houses. The school environment will reap the benefits of the bees; with their pollinating habits being strong supporters of biodiversity. The students will benefit from having further connection to nature and education on our local ecology. 

Last week, thanks to Mr Webb and his Year 10 classes, we installed 4 more hives around the school giving us a total of 6 hives at present. Thank you to Mr Webb for organising this, and to Mr Sean Fry from the Grounds Team for his advice on ensuring appropriate locations. 

Upcoming events for the MCA Bee Project involve:

• Environment Group’s ‘Planting Bee-Friendly Plants’ Afternoon this Thursday, 3rd November 
• Introduction of the final two hives on Monday 7th November
• In the future: Associating each hive with a house, and getting students involved with decorating the hives, making informative signs for the hives, launching the hives in house meetings

 Hopefully, many of the boys will be able to get involved with this and grow a familiar connection with their house hive. Down the track, we still have many great plans for the MCA bee project, for example collecting sugarbag honey and splitting hives, incorporating bees into the Curriculum, being a part of university research projects and building bee hotels to create habitats for a wider variety of native bees. On behalf of the environment group, we would like to thank the Marist community for all their support and donations to this great cause that will immensely benefit our College now and for many years to come. 

Planting Afternoon this Thursday – Get Involved!

Everyone is welcome to help the MCA Environment Club plant bee-friendly native plants!

When: This Thursday, 3rd November.

Time: 3:15pm - 4:30 pm

Where: Meet outside the Draney Theatre

Bring: A hat!

We have received many free native plants donated by the Brisbane City Council waiting to be part of the Marist Ecosystem and we need your help!