A partnership between Advance Community College’s School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBAT) program, and students from Westall Secondary College, has led to the design and construction of a major landscaping feature at the school.
Dubbed “The Learning Stone Project”, it will be sited on the lawns of Westall Secondary College’s main entrance, and incorporate a large central stone installation, encircled by bench seating, where students will be able to sit and talk, eat their lunch, or simply catch up.
Weather permitting the school intends to use the space as an outdoor classroom.
Brainchild of Koori Education Support Officer, John Murray, the Learning Stone aims to provide an avenue for young people to maintain connection to country, and will represent Aboriginal culture by incorporating the colours of the Aboriginal flag amongst the design’s features; including red scoria, yellow central stone elements and black bench seating.
Mr Murray said it was an important project as it was designed to “create a safe place for gathering, learning and growing together.”
A group of 13 young male and female Westall Secondary College students have been involved in the Learning Stone initiative. All are undertaking the Certificate II in Parks and Gardens qualification and have been involved at every stage of the project; from design, to quoting and work scheduling, to materials selection and interaction with suppliers, and to site preparation and construction.
In the process the students have been gaining valuable work skills in project management, design and construction, and customer service.
Advance Community College Parks and Gardens trainer, Leigh Niemann said “this is a great project for the trainees as they are learning many different skills they will be able to use when they have completed the SBAT program.”
He said the students had consulted and worked collaboratively with school staff and external experts, and even “approached the construction team building a hall on site to borrow a bobcat to assist with the installation of the stone, which was too heavy to position manually”.
Mr Niemann said all of these experiences would help the students in home and work life long after the program was completed.
Students Stephanie Hollyfield and Jenicor Papatua, both in Year 12, agreed about the project’s outcomes and their shared experiences.
Ms Hollyfield said that for her the Learning Stone was “a place for young people to learn, a place to find knowledge about the Aboriginal people, a place to tell stories, a place for conversation and a place to rest and reflect”.
Ms Papatua said the project had been fun. It had given her more knowledge about landscaping and provided an opportunity to leave a legacy for the school. “After the project is finished”, she said, “I’ll be proud because when I leave school I’ll be able to say that I participated in making the area.”
Assistant school principal, Mark Henderson, praised the work of the project and the Parks and Gardens team. He said their efforts were “outstanding and very much appreciated.”
The team was “creating opportunities for our students that allow them to contribute to something long lasting” he said. “We are lucky to have you on board, as are the students.”
The Learning Stone installation is due for completion in Term III, 2019 and will be unveiled at a smoking ceremony, which will be organised by the local Aboriginal community. An official date is to be announced.
For more information on the Learning Stone project or on the SBAT program contact Advance Community College Native Nursery and Horticulture Education Centre, Mornington on 5977 2976.
