School top of class for sustainability
GROUNDBREAKING new sustainable biotechnology practices have been put into practice at one of Townsville’s newest schools.
Students and staff at St Benedict’s Catholic School have adopted techniques and tools used by one of Townsville’s leading biotechnology companies to bolster its sustainability projects. St Benedict’s outdoor and environmental projects officer Ngaire Trigg said the school was leading the way in Queensland.
“Some of the projects the
kids are taking on, I believe we’re the only school in this area doing them,” Ms Trigg said. “I certainly get to come to work excited every day, we all get to be involved in some pretty amazing projects here at school. There’s a lot of unique experiences we’re able to deliver.”
Among those experiences that students have helped cultivate are a 200m-long bush tucker trail with dozens of unique native species and a food waste composting system used to fertilise the grounds.
“The kids have been a big part of that since day one, and built it all from the ground up.
The bush tucker trail now has over 40 species planted there, all identified and labelled with QR codes,” Ms Trigg said.
“Every student group takes on their own project, they develop environmental projects. Kids in prep right now are studying pollinators and other student groups are working on regenerative agriculture with our chickens and ducks.”
That work has been bolstered by assistance from both the state government through grant funding, and biotech company VRM Biologik’s advice and equipment. The Townsville-based enter
prise has already provided its products to operations as near as Clare and as far as China, but CEO Kellie Walters said the company was still eager to help out close to home.
“We have a dedicated school support program, we really think it’s important to engage the youth and empower them,” she said.
The two organisations teamed up after the VRM assisted St Benedict’s with treating algae in its newly established billabong and began collaborating.
“Ngaire had very clear plans for the projects the
school was approaching,” Ms Walters said. “She came to us and we provided the tech and helped them with their projects.”
VRM has also provided plenty of learning opportunities, with experts frequently visiting to speak with the students.
“The best thing about that is the sophistication in the questions being asked by the children,” Ms Walters said. “It’s really astounding. They’re talking about these concepts at a really advanced level. So we can see it’s really sparking their imagination and keeping them engaged.”