News Item

A TASTE OF LANDCARE

September 27, 2011

Horticulture students from Community College Gippsland’s Leongatha campus have been getting a taste of Landcare helping to plant some 1,000 trees to re-generate a reserve at Tarwin Lower managed by the Department of Sustainability and the Environment (DSE).

The students joined the National Green Jobs Corps project (NGJC) for the day which has been undertaking major re-vegetation works at sites across South Gippsland over the past five months.

The project, funded by the Australian Government, is coordinated by Community College Gippsland in partnership with the South Gippsland Landcare Network. It provides paid work and training for young people aged from 17 – 24 years.

Community College Gippsland Horticulture Trainer, Sarah Vesty, said it was a great opportunity for horticulture students to join the NGJC team for the day and work on a project that contributes to the health of the local environment.

“The DSE provided 1,000 native plants and guards for the group to undertake the planting.”

South Gippsland Landcare Network (SGLN) Project Officer, Kate Williams, said the partnership with SGLN, Community College Gippsland, the National Green Jobs Corp and the DSE was a success.

“A partnership approach enabled the project to run smoothly. “It is a great way to introduce younger people to land care to foster an appreciation of the value of regenerating habitat areas to benefit the environment and communities.”

Ms Williams said the site at Tarwin Lower was predominately pasture grass with little native vegetation, and weeds such as thistles were an ongoing issue.

“This planting will hopefully reduce the need for weed control into the future and also make a huge difference in terms of enhancing biodiversity and re-building habitat for native flora and fauna.”

Horticulture Trainer, Sarah Vesty, said the horticulture students had gained enormous satisfaction from being part of the project.

“The group were ecstatic to see a few kangaroos while undertaking the plantings and look forward to returning to the area in the future to see the impact of their labour in extending wildlife habitat.

“We have a diverse range of students undertaking accredited courses in horticulture at Community College Gippsland’s Leongatha campus aged from 18 to more than 60 years of age.

“Some of the students in this group are looking to get into careers in horticulture in nurseries, with local government or running their own businesses.

“The course has a strong practical focus exposing students to a variety of industry specialists to increase their knowledge and skills”

Back from left: Shaun Pulbrook, Troy Hergatt, Brendan Taggert, Chris Fraser,
Paul Swetnam, Trainer Sarah Vesty, Sheree Jones, Maryanne Mellings, Peter Mertens Front Row: Melissa Wolswinkler

For further information contact:

Paul Wilson
CEO
Community College Gippsland
Ph: 03 5622 6000