By Jesse Graham
BADGER Creek Primary School is poised to sweep an awards night next month, receiving four nominations for the 2016 ResourceSmart School Awards.
The awards, which are organised by Sustainability Victoria, recognise work by schools, early childhood services, students and teachers to reduce their environmental impact.
The school is a finalist in the Water School of the Year, Biodiversity School of the Year, Community Leadership School of the Year and ResourceSmart School of the Year categories.
Principal Scott Crawford said he was “extremely excited” about the nominations, and said that sustainability and environmental awareness were a focus at the school.
“It’s great recognition for the hard work and focus we’ve put on sustainability over the last few years,” he said.
He paid tribute to sustainability teacher Erin Murphy who oversees much of the sustainability program, including a project where Healesville High School VCAL students constructed a hen house for the school.
VCAL co-ordinator Gabby Plunkett said the students had constructed a vegie patch at the school last year, and that this was “the next step” in a long-term partnership between the schools.
She said the VCAL and primary school students drew up designs for the hen house and then collaborated with each other, before the final construction began.
The project was also a task for the VCAL students, who are required to undertake a community project and prove that the need for the project exists.
“That was their need – they wanted the house and we needed to do a community project,” Ms Plunkett said.
“It was a nice marriage, a nice pairing … for the whole community, it’s just a great project.
“I think this is one of the better projects and it just worked really well – and it happened, as opposed to just talking about it.”
Healesville High School teachers Aidan Hogg and Nic Skewes also oversaw the project, with 14 students taking part.
The hen house is listed as part of the school’s citation for the Community Leadership award.
Mr Crawford said he would be attending the awards ceremony on 11 November at the Melbourne Museum, and hoped the school would come away successful.
“If we could come home with one, that’d be great,” he said.
For those wanting to take action in sustainability in their area, Mr Crawford said that acting locally was key, as was bringing about small changes.
“The Wipe for Wildlife campaign is one thing, so changing to recycled toilet paper – and from there, big things can grow out of it,” he said.
A full list of finalists can be found at www.resourcesmartschools.vic.gov.au.
