By Jodie Symonds
CHUM Creek Primary School has proved little schools can do big things after winning the Platypus Education Group’s elastic band challenge.
The school announced at their end of year assembly on Friday 16 December that students collected nearly 4000 bands throughout the program.
The program involved students collecting bands off the top of milk containers, jars, loom bands and elastic bands.
Students were educated on the importance of keeping elastic bands out of waterways to prevent platypus injuries and death.
School Captain Declan and Environmental Monitor Grace were presented with a framed certificate from both Platypus Education Group (PEG) Founder Jen Ellison and Yarra Ranges Councillor Jim Child.
A mosaic was presented to the school from PEG of a platypus, created by students from Upper Yarra Secondary College.
Chum Creek Primary School Principal Michael Corr said the students did a fantastic job.
“Schools are often overlooked because of their size, but we were lucky enough to participate in this program and ended up winning,” Mr Corr said.
Yarra Ranges councillor Jim Child filled in for fellow councillor Fiona McAllister and said the program made for healthy streams.
“It’s an absolutely wonderful achievement,” Cr Child said.
“Small schools make the best schools.”
Throughout schools in the Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley, a total of 33,399 bands were collected and 16,000 of those were from the Yarra Valley.
Founder of the Platypus Education Group, Jen Ellison said the bands Chum Creek Primary School collected equated to roughly 62 bands per student.
“It really was an amazing effort by all of the staff and students who got cafes and other businesses in their area involved as well,” Ms Ellison said.
She said this year was the first for the program, and after much success there were plans to continue it with more small schools next year.
“We’re definitely going to do it again next year with more small schools around the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges,” Ms Ellison said.
For more information, type ‘Platypus Education Group’ into the search bar on Facebook.
