Boarders do their bit to clean up Australia
Our boarders display a deep love and respect for the environment. Whether they’ve grown up in some of the greenest and most diverse landscapes in Australia or are discovering it for the first time as international students, they take great pride in their surroundings at Learning in Residence, Wesley’s boarding facility at Glen Waverley Campus.
It was therefore no surprise that so many stepped forward to volunteer their time at ‘Clean Up Australia Day,’ which has become our nation's largest, community-based environmental event.
‘Dividing ourselves into two groups, we set out to collect as much garbage and litter as we could find, with my group taking responsibility for the beach, and the other focusing on the sidewalks. Over three hours, walking along the beach and the boulevard, we collectively picked up six garbage bags of rubbish!’ says Jasmine (Year 11).
‘While this is just a small fraction of the litter that exists, it was incredibly gratifying to know that our efforts had a tangible impact on both the local community and the environment. This activity serves as a reminder of the importance of taking action to protect Australia’s environment and represents a small step towards creating a cleaner and more sustainable future for the next generation.’
Cate (Year 11) agrees: ‘It gave me an eye-opening perspective into how polluted Melbourne is, and how simple actions such as putting rubbish directly into a sealed bin, can make for a much cleaner and more sustainable environment.’
The ‘Clean Up Australia Day’ excursion is just one activity within Wesley’s comprehensive Learning in Residence (Boarding) residential curriculum, which runs after school and on weekends. Community service is one of eight components of the program, which also features social events, academic support and skill-building activities to help boarders prepare for future study and employment opportunities. Find out more about the residential curriculum.
Sustainability is also one of Wesley’s core values, and something that students are passionate about.
‘I would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to participate in this simple event to do so to help combat the climate crisis in Australia and globally,’ Cate says.
Jasmine adds, ‘Moving forward, I believe this activity serves as a reminder of the importance of taking action to protect Australia’s environment and represents a small step towards creating a cleaner and more sustainable future for the next generation.’
