Awards are action for environment

TWO local schools have been rewarded for their environmental efforts in a series of awards by Yarra Ranges Council.
The Patch School, Belgrave Heights Christian School and Woori Yallock Farm School won the Yarra Ranges Council’s HabitAT awards in late November and received their awards in early December.
The HabitAT awards, which have been run for four years, celebrate local schools that raise awareness, understanding and enhancement of their local environment.
Yarra Ranges Council’s Learning for Sustainability Officer Anthony Mann said that teaching sustainability in schools promotes good environmental attitudes in students.
“It’s really preparing them for the future and getting them attached to our local environment,” he said.
“Sustainability is something we’re going to be faced with in the future.”
The HabitAT awards are split into three sections – census, plan and action.
These sections are different stages of developing action plans for a school’s local environment, from surveying and developing ideas about how to improve amenity to finally enacting the plan.
The Cenus section was won by The Patch School and Belgrave Heights Christian School, while the HabitAT Action award was won by Worri Yallock Farm School.
The winning schools received a perpetual trophy, $700 worth of planting materials from the council’s Ribbon of Green program and an opportunity for a student to go to Melbourne Water’s Kids Teaching Kids conference.
Environmental educator at The Patch School Michelle Rayner said that the awards aimed to teach students environmental practices.
“We’ve done very well with our environmental program,” she said.
“It’s great being acknowledged for the aesthetics in the process and also the curriculum behind it.”
The Patch School recently won the Victorian School’s Garden Awards for their school garden, earning them around $3000.
Mrs Rayner said that what sets The Patch School apart is how much students take ownership of their grounds.
“Students are constantly involved,” she said.
“I suppose it’s unique because the students are so heavily involved in the gardens.
“It’s so much theirs.”
For more information on the HabitAT awards, visit www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au.