Ad Alta INDIGENOUS GARDEN PROJECT The glorious brisk morning of 26 May saw the first visible sign of progress towards the completion of the Indigenous Garden Project being undertaken on the site outside the Arts area by the Year 10 Ad Alta students. The small but determined Ad Alta students have been active in both preparing and researching the project from its infancy at the start of the school year to the completion at the end of Phase 1. The boys initially assessed the site by physically clearing the area including trees being removed and ground, grass being scraped and as a clean area was established, marking of the design was begun. This took all of first term and most of second. As the soil was finally tilled by both bobcat, digga and spades the students worked throughout the weeks to prepare and grade the ground for crushed rock and gabion baskets to follow. The original brief was to design and build a garden that: 1. Represents the importance of Reconciliation with First Nations people at SJC. 2. Welcomes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to our school. 3. Acknowledges the local Wathaurong community as the traditional custodians of the local country. The designer is Alice Condon and this project is part of a partnership with Wathaurong Community through Uncle David Tournier with plants from John King – Nursery.
Marking out the initial stages of garden works
Tony Veitenheimer (Buildscape services) has been instrumental in getting the project completed this year and his patience and skills have enabled the students to learn and develop many new and varied skills. Mentoring primary students in woodwork
St Thomas Aquinas woodwork project Landscaping the garden
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As the design has taken shape, the boys have enjoyed being able to physically see progress being made. Their enthusiasm and energy are evidence of their determination to see this project through the first stage of design. The final planting of the seedlings (by Year 7s who undertook the seed collection and propagation) sees the culmination of hundreds of hours of labour in all weather conditions. The Ad Alta students involved were: Fraser Toohey, Petar Delac, Brandon Marnell, Max Eddy, Zac Zula, Nick Loughnan and David Handley. I commend the students on their hard work and as phase one of the project is completed we look forward to 2016 and the development of Phase 2. We have been ably supported this year by Tony Veitenheimer, landscape designer and mentor to the boys, Trav Smith (SJC gardener), Pierre Belluzzo, Jo Hart and Peter Adams (my Term 3 replacement). OTHER AD ALTA PROJECTS As part of the Certificate 2 in ‘Employment pathways’ the Ad Alta students’ spent time in the school gym covering the outcomes: Being fit for work, Strategies to develop self confidence, Developing strategies for handling conflict and stress and setting personal targets and goals. The students enjoyed discovering legitimate pathways into the Health and Fitness industry. During Term 3 the Ad Alta students were offered the chance to mentor primary school students from St Thomas Aquinas. The Ad Alta students put their applied learning skills to good use providing support and skills to assist the Primary students completing their woodwork project at the Gordon. Monika Ercoli - Ad Alta Coordinator
The indigenous garden close to completion
