Ettalong students hear about bush care
A presentation was given at Ettalong Public School on Monday, June 23, by representatives of the Blackwall Mountain Bushcare Group, the Peninsula Dunecare group, and the Pretty Beach Public School Bushcare Group.
The objective was to present local environmental information and to inspire students to gain an awareness of, and undertake local environmental projects to help look after isolated natural areas on the Woy Woy Peninsula.
Mr Tony Whitehead, of Blackwall Mountain Bushcare Group, presented the school with books and a CD on the Blackwall Mountain Reserve and beach plants of the local area.
Mr Whitehead said: "Schools can access government funds for environmental protection quite easily."
Mr Whitehead urged students to look at their environment closely and to protect isolated plant and animal communities on the Peninsula such as the koala community at Pearl Beach.
"If the environment is unhealthy, we become unhealthy," he said.
Ms Edith Connolly, coordinator of Pretty Beach Public School Bushcare Group, explained the group's environmental projects and concerns.
"Even though we are a small school we actually have four hectares of land, most of which is bush.
"We didn't have a track leading up into the bush.
"If students wanted to take their students into the bush for an art, environment or science lesson, they went different ways through the bush all the time.
"What do you think might have happened to the native plants when a whole class walked over them?
"The plants are squashed and killed.
"What do you think would have happened when the plants died and patches of bare soil were left exposed?
"Weeds grow and erosion happens.
"So we decided to build a graded path in our 'bush classroom' and to remove the weeds so that the native plants could grow back again."
Mr Whitehead said he was undertaking a koala survey within the Brisbane Water National Park.
Any sightings should be reported to National Parks and Wildlife Service on 4320 4280.
Con Orfanos, June 23.