By Tanya Steele
Sustainability and the environment were on the menu for a local primary school that united for an afternoon cleaning up their local area for Clean Up Australia Day.
Tecoma Primary School got a head start on Clean Up Australia Day for 2024 on Thursday 29 February with a stellar school wide effort by the primary school students.
The rail trail between Tecoma and Belgrave and the school grounds was tackled by students, teachers and school families with bags and gloves in hand and student school environmental leaders Janelle and Jacob said they thought the students did a good job.
“Although I feel like there was a lot more rubbish that’s supposed to be in the bins,” Janelle said.
“It’s good that we found it,” Emma said.
The school sustainability teacher Mrs Langford said it was fantastic to watch the pride in the students approach to a clean environment.
“Their dedication to ensuring our school grounds and the surrounding area are kept rubbish free is a testament to their vested interest in our Resource Smart School program and Sustainable Schools Policy,” she said.
The afternoon group effort saw grade three to six students picking up bottles and assorted rubbish with gloves along the scenic rail trail along Tecoma and into Belgrave.
Acting Principal Di Douple said the students who collected rubbish along the rail track at the back of the school, were very impressed with how little rubbish there was to pick up.
“It was a testament to the Tecoma community who take such pride in looking after our local environment,” she said.
Younger school members in Prep to grade two didn’t miss out and went to work cleaning up around the school grounds.
The school enjoyed participating in the nationwide event and hopes to continue to do so in the future.
Clean up Australia began 30 years ago and continues to unite Australians to care for their local environment.
Clean up Australia founder Ian Kiernan AO, who passed away on 16 October 2018 believed that Clean Up belongs to the millions of volunteers who have taken to their streets, beaches, parks, bushland and waterways to remove the rubbish that is bothering them.
Environmental student leader Robbie said that if the students collected the amount of rubbish they did find in 30 minutes, ‘imagine what else is out there’.
Acting Principal Di Double said it was so great to see students, teachers and parents working together on the extremely important community event.
“I’d like to thank Mrs Langford, her environment team and everyone who worked together to clean up Tecoma,” she said.
