College boost to Yarra River

By Dion Teasdale
WORAWA Aboriginal College in Healesville has been chosen to take part in an initiative aimed at cleaning up and improving the health of the Yarra River.
The initiative, Our River, Our Games will be conducted at 12 sites along the river in the lead up to the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games in March next year.
The $60,000 project, funded through Minister for Water and Environment John Thwaites’s office, will involve extensive tree planting and litter collection conducted by schools, community groups and local councils.
Commonwealth Games Environment ambassador Rob Gell visited Worawa Aboriginal College earlier this month to take part in one of five tree planting days at the school.
“The Yarra will be in the international spotlight during the Games when it is the focus of sporting and cultural events,” Mr Gell said.
“This project is encouraging the people of Melbourne to take pride in their river and learn how they can help improve its health.”
Mr Gell said the Our River, Our Games project was started in the Yarra Valley and would continue along the river through Warrandyte, Eltham, Templestowe, Heidelberg, Kew, Hawthorn, Fairfield and Abbotsford to Burnley.