The Wooragee Junior Landcare Group were put in the national spotlight when the late Bob Hawke donned a windbreaker the group had gifted him in Canberra.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
That focus will return when Gardening Australia airs an episode on the group's 30th anniversary, celebrated at the Wooragee Primary School on Friday.
Graeme Missen, whose children were part of the very first Junior Landcare Group, recalled how the Wooragee branch and its junior arm began in 1989.
"We became the second landcare group (after Springhurst) to be recognised in North Eastern Victoria and to mark the formation it was decided to share the official opening of a brand new fire shed and garage for the CFA," he said.
"As part of this, the school principal Andy Woods and his first year assistant teacher Jamie Gay were approached to see if a junior landcare group could be formed at the school.
"The junior landcare was registered by the education department as the first in Victoria.
"The interest in junior landcare spread all over Australia and to overseas countries such as Canada."
Mr Missen said early achievements saw the school awarded the "very first national Landcare award".
In accepting the accolade in Canberra, a student presented a gift to Bob Hawke.
"Ever the people's Prime Minister, he immediately opened the gift to find a wind cheater with the school logo screen-printed on the front," Mr Missen said.
"He replaced his smooth, tailored jacket with the wind cheater.
"The whole audience applauded his gesture, and for the rest of the ceremonies he wore it."
IN OTHER NEWS
The Junior Landcare was a factor in Wooragee, then an outer campus of the Yackandandah Primary School, surviving closures during the Jeff Kennett years and becoming independent.
Mr Missen thanked the many people who had been crucial to the group's establishment and continuation including former and current principals Chris Varker and Alicia Odewahn.
Year 5 student Kalum Porteous, 10, in addressing the anniversary celebration said it had been a "wonderful experience learning from a range of people with great passion" for landcare.
"The students and I have enjoyed learning skills from our magnificent garden gurus, Owen and Eric," he said.
"We have helped do great things for our environment, such as planting over 1000 trees, putting up nesting boxes ... collecting rubbish on the side of the road, making bee hotels, and planting banksias for small birds to live in.
"Moving towards the future, Wooragee Primary School would like to be a part of more landcare activities."
Receive our daily newsletter straight to your inbox each morning from The Border Mail. Sign up here
