College expanding opportunities
An expansion of learning opportunities at Ararat College is well underway, with a display home in Ararat set to be part of a school farm project.
The RAL 3 home, manufactured by the Loeliger family in Ararat, will shift from AME Systems to the school farm site.
The building will provide learning space for the college’s Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning students and an alternative re-engagement program for disengaged youth.
College business manager Coralie Whitworth said the focus of the Ararat College School Farm project was to develop a self-sufficient and energyefficient facility.
She said the project had an emphasis on recycling, rejuvenation and sustainability, while providing education and skill development in areas relevant to the community.
“The school farm includes a vineyard, which produced the college’s 2018 Commissioners Hill Shiraz wine. VCAL students were involved in all aspects of winemaking under the guidance of our dedicated VCAL teaching staff and expert winemaker Simon Clayfield of Clayfield’s Wines,” she said.
Ms Whitworth said the development of a wetland area would involve the establishment of boardwalks with information stations detailing plants and animals in the area.
“Students have been involved in the eradication of invasive and foreign species, clearing of waterways, increasing student awareness of the local environment and forming positive interaction with community connections including Rotary, Landcare and Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority,” she said.
“This is a very exciting project for Ararat.
“Ararat College has identified the need within the community to provide an alternate program that is not currently offered.
“Looking at Horsham, which has a population of 14,285, education facilities include Horsham College, Connect Ed, Mckenzie Creek Campus, St Brigid’s College, Lutheran college, and the Fed Uni Campus – however Ararat with a population of 11,752 only has Ararat and Marion colleges.”
Ms Whitworth said the school had been busy on various projects.
“We have installed a recording studio in our music centre. This will record bands, duos and solos to professional standards,” she said.
“The system can record up to 15 musicians or instruments with a topof-the-range, up-to-date, sound recording-mixing desk.
“This will be a great asset for our school band, VET students from our VET cluster and Ararat College music students.
“This area will also be available in the future for hire for local bands and upcoming artists.”
Ms Whitworth said later in the year the school would be looking at upgrading its media centre.
“We hope we will provide the best media learning environment within a regional area,” she said.
“The Ararat College media students and ‘AC News’ team, under the guidance of media teacher Melissa Murnane, have put together a design incorporating a studio, gallery of work, virtual hub, TV and sound system, as well as editing room and photography printing room.”