By Dongyun Kwon
Chum Creek Primary School had a chance encounter with a little nature buddy.
An echidna fell into a tyre in the Chum Creek Primary School playground on Wednesday 31 January.
Students and business manager Robyn Tymms worked together to rescue the echidna.
Ms Tymms said she put on gloves to pick up the echidna from the tyre.
“Normally what would happen with echidnas is you just leave off and they will go,” she said.
“They can dig themselves out of a lot of things.
“But, because she was in a tyre, she didn’t have the capacity to dig the tyre, so she had no way out.”
Chum Creek Primary School has old tyres half buried into the ground for kids to play.
After they rescued the little girl, they put her back in the grass near the playground.
Echidnas are regular visitors of the school along with other wild animals such as kangaroos and possums.
Ms Tymms said Chum Creek Primary School is an environment oriented school and students love all the wildlife.
“All the kids are definitely country kids and we are all very into the environment,” she said.
“One of their best pieces to play with is a tree that fell over and the kids climb all over and they love it.
“We’ve had taken that inspection and approved by the playground inspector.”
Chum Creek Primary School principal Michael Corr said the natural environment of Chum Creek Primary School supports the students to become environmentally responsible and show respect for the environment.
“It also provides an interesting and dynamic outdoor play space with natural features that add stimulation and create variety,” he said.
“This, in turn, allows our students to explore and experience the natural environment with open-ended interactions, spontaneity, risk taking, exploration, discovery and connection with nature.
“Chum Creek Primary School aims to foster an appreciation of the natural environment, develop environmental awareness and provide a platform for ongoing environmental education as well as being able to look at trees and plants, our students are encouraged to actively explore, engage with, and experience the school’s natural environment and are allowed to touch and interact with the natural environment in their everyday play.”
