By Afraa Kori
Students from Pakenham Secondary College swapped their classrooms for gumboots and gloves last week, joining forces with the Cannibal Creek Catchment Landcare Group at Lovers Lane site in Garfield on May 7.
As part of the collaboration, around 10 Landcare members and a group of students planted 450 native plants, contributing to a broader revegetation effort aimed at restoring the local environment.
Pakenham Secondary College teacher Jamie Gourlay said the event ties into the school’s community service program, where students are required to complete 26 hours over the year.
“Community planting is just one of the things we’re doing this year; however, it’s the first time we’ve collaborated with Landcare,” she said.
“Hopefully, they have some good conversations with the people they’re helping. I hope they appreciate the environment a little bit more — and understand what it actually takes to do revegetation and restore nature to how it used to be.”
Throughout the afternoon, students rolled up their sleeves for hands-on work, including planting, assembling and installing tree guards, watering, digging, and hammering stakes.
“It’s just something a little bit different from being in the classroom all the time — I think that really appeals to them,” Jamie said.
“They’re gaining hands-on skills for tree planting, and I don’t think any of them would have done anything like this before. It’s pretty crazy — you can actually see the difference you’re making. There were no trees before, and now there are.”
Cardinia Shire Council Mayor Jack Kowarzik who visited the site, congratulated the students from Pakenham Secondary College for pitching in to help get 500 plants into the ground, including Cannibal Creek Catchment Landcare Group for another day of successful planting!
The partnership is part of a growing collaboration between local schools and Landcare. Neerim District Secondary College is scheduled to join the Landcare group in June, with additional planting sessions planned for July and August.
This initiative complements Pakenham Secondary College’s broader focus on outdoor learning, with programs like Outdoor Education and the Duke of Edinburgh Award encouraging students to build resilience, leadership, and environmental awareness.
The Outdoor Education curriculum gives students real-world experiences that help them develop teamwork and confidence, while the Duke of Edinburgh Award offers challenging adventures.
Through these immersive experiences, students are encouraged to step outside their comfort zones and discover their potential — one tree, one hike, and one challenge at a time.
The collaboration between Pakenham Secondary College and the Cannibal Creek Catchment Landcare Group isn’t over yet, with Neerim District Secondary College joining in June. Additional planting sessions are also planned for July and August, continuing the students’ hands-on environmental work.
