Media Release
Laramba School green thumbs return to Desert Park
Monday 5 December 2005
Eight secondary students from Laramba School in central Australia returned to the Alice Springs Desert Park this week for a busy day’s work in the plant nursery.
The student green thumbs spent much of their time repotting a collection of native plant seedlings into larger pots in readiness for the summer. They had propagated the plants on a visit to the park some weeks earlier.
Laramba, 200km northwest of Alice Springs, is one of 10 Territory schools piloting the Sustainable Schools Program.
Teacher Ruth Micka said: “The program brings together students, teachers, communities and a variety of organisations to support positive environmental change.
“They have grown fresh produce for the community and they’ve propagated a large number of native plants from seed in partnership with the desert park.
“The young plants will be used to re-vegetate the school grounds next year after the current building program is completed.”
Ms Micka said: “It has been an engaging and rewarding program for the students, and they have a much better understanding of indigenous flora and fauna.”
“We have had tremendous support from Curriculum Officer Emma Bliss, and the Desert Park staff have been great too.”