By Alesha Capone
A group of students from Point Cook Senior Secondary College has created an indigenous habitat garden.
Personal development skills (PDS) teacher Tom Noonan said VCAL students created the garden as part of their studies into Aboriginal indigenous habitat horticulture.
“This semester 60 year 11 PDS students will be learning how to crop, plant, grow and care for plants in our indigenous habitat garden,” he said.
Mr Noonan said the school received a $20,000 grant from the federal government to develop the garden, thanks to Gellibrand MP Tim Watts.
In addition, Bunnings warehouse in Hoppers Crossing has donated tools and gloves valued at $1000 to help students create the garden.
Mr Noonan said plants selected for the garden, including Eucalyptus melidora trees, callistemon, acacia species and native grasses, were chosen with the aim of attracting birds and wildlife.
He said the year 11 students creating the garden had enjoyed learning outdoors with hands-on activities, working in teams and learning employability skills.
“The students loved being able to do some applied practical learning through what’s been a difficult year of schooling with flexible remote online learning,” he said.
Mr Noonan said that next year, there were plans for pupils to grow seeds and plant the additional greenery in the garden.
“A class is working on a design for an outdoor classroom joining the habitat garden in 2021,” he said.
“This exciting project will provide a learning space for teaching.”
