New Green Corps Team partners parklands Albury Wodonga

The official launch of the newest Green Corps team based in Wodonga was held on Thursday 27 January, 2005.  The team, partnered by parklands has the project title “Environmentally Sustainable Lifestyle Alternatives”.  Many guests attended the launch, including Sophie Panopoulos (Federal Member for Indi), Steve Allen (Green Corps State Manager for Victoria) and Mike Hansen (Executive Officer, parklands).

Team Leader, Kirstyn Butler explained about the Green Corps program at the launch:

“Green Corps is a Commonwealth Government youth development and environmental training program, which offers people, aged from 17 to 20 years old the opportunity to receive quality training while participating in projects that contribute to significant environmental and cultural heritage initiatives.

It’s a 26 week program, administered by the Department of Education and Workplace Relations (DEWR) and managed by a consortium of Job Futures and Green Australia.

The team will complete accredited training, resulting in a Certificate 1 in Conservation and Land Management with a statement of attainment towards Certificate 2.

The team will complete environmental work on behalf of project partner parklands.  They will be involved in choosing, organising and completing a community based venture towards the end of the project.”

Reflections from Green Corps

After several weeks working with Green Corps, team member Holli Waite reflects..

“Looking over the past ten weeks in Green Corps, I have noticed how much we have grown together and achieved as a team.

We have accomplished all sorts of training, from OH&S and First Aid through to Leadership Training and Safe Usage of Chemicals.  We have also learnt how to lay pipes for watering troughs and how to find them with crowbars.

During our work at IMBY we assembled a 90 metre fence.  The main idea was to keep the goats in an area eating prickly blackberries instead of the apple trees we had planted!

From 17-24 January we were involved with fencing on the High Country Rail Trail.  We assembled a 750 metre fence – something that we can all be proud of.

At IMBY we are in the process of making mud bricks to rebuild the shed around the water pump.  The process isn’t very complicated but the mud is very heavy and therefore it is time consuming and hard work.  Together we have produced 127 mud bricks but more are still needed.

We have spent two days on Huon Hill cutting down and poisoning Tree of Heaven.  Given the extremely steep slope and the sheer number of trees it soon became more appropriately known as “Tree of Hell”.  Also on Huon Hill we have: removed tree guards; hand pulled Bathurst Burr; and started clearing a walking path using rake-hoes.

Challenges are never hard to find in Green Corps but it is what you make of them that counts.  With an exceptional leader and a superb team along side you; it is amazing what you can accomplish!”