Schools proposing initiatives with the greatest environmental impact were considered and judged by a panel of sustainability experts and educators – and there was a huge range of exceptional projects to choose from!
The winning schools stretch far and wide from city dwellers to rural towns. Let’s take a look at some of the winners.
Wanneroo Secondary College
In Western Australia, Wanneroo Secondary College will be creating a seasonal bush garden aligned with the six Noongar seasons (Birak, Bunuru, Djeran, Makuru, Djilba, Kambarang). The aim is to restore the natural environment surrounding their Learning Centre, where they teach 35 high school students with Autism and other learning and mental health challenges.
Rapid Bay Primary School
In South Australia, the students at Rapid Bay Primary School (pictured) will be revitalising the Yattagolinga Creek and the surrounding catchment by planting natives, managing weeds, and regulating water flow. These measures will aim to restore health and resilience of the creek ecosystem, creating habitats for native birds, insects and aquatic species.
Waverley Primary School
Waverley Primary School in Tasmania will be developing a closed-loop composting system to reduce food waste from their semi-commercial kitchen and Community Dining Hall. The compost created will support the school’s micro-forest and kitchen garden, while helping cut down on the amount of organic waste being produced by the school.
Groverly State School
The Richmond Birdwing vine is a threatened climbing vine native to southeastern Queensland and is the host plant of the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly. Students at Groverly State School in Brisbane will use its $5,000 to create a living corridor consisting of Richmond Birdwing Vines, pollinator-friendly natives, and a native stingless bee hive to enrich the habitat.
The full list of 20 schools awarded grants to turn their sustainability visions into reality are below:
Victoria:
Epsom Primary School
Broadford Primary School
Saltwater P-9 College
St Columba’s College
Ainslie Parklands Primary School
Montrose Primary
Lilydale Heights College
Western Australia:
Coolgardie Primary School
Wanneroo Secondary College – Learning Centre
Brookton District High School
Tasmania:
Waverley Primary School
South Australia
Aldgate Primary School
Rapid Bay Primary School
Queensland
Grovely State School
New South Wales
Mary Immaculate Primary School Eagle Vale
Merriwa Central School
Central West Leadership Academy
Korowal School
Nashdale Public School
Christmas Island
Christmas Island District High School
This year’s National Recycling Week runs from November 10–16, and Coles proudly returns as the major sponsor for the fourth consecutive year. To explore additional recycling initiatives, visit nationalrecyclingweek.com.au.