An Ocean Grove year four student with a passion for gardening and the environment has secured Barwon Water funding for a sprinkler system for her school after writing to the organisation with the request.
Our Lady Star of the Sea year four student Mackenzie Fraser wrote to Barwon Water earlier this year seeking its support to help the school purchase a water-efficient irrigation system for the school’s vegetable garden.
Mackenzie is passionate about gardening and with firsthand experience of her parents’ efficient automated home watering system sought funding for one for the school garden, which is currently being watered by students, under the guidance of Garden Specialist Kellie Clark.
Ms Clark said Mackenzie had been a passionate environmental advocate at Star of the Sea since her first day of school.
Principal Kerryn Sells also thanked Barwon Water for supporting Mackenzie’s proposal.
“I am certainly proud of Mackenzie and her friends for their initiative and care,” she said.
“The school garden is a great place for our students to learn about the value of water to the environment.”
Mackenzie said she really loves helping out in the garden area.
“I am happy that Barwon Water is able to help the school pay for a better watering system,” she said.
Even though she has recently moved interstate, Mackenzie was back at Star of the Sea with her mum to catch up with Barwon Water Education Officer Fernando Garcia who shared the good news.
“Our Lady Star of the Sea primary School in Ocean Grove is a Schools Water Efficiency Program (SWEP) school,” Mr Garcia said.
“By using the SWEP grants available to schools, we were able to agree to provide funding towards an irrigation system.”
Fernando met with Ms Clark and Mackenzie at the school to visit the garden, discuss the project and congratulate Mackenzie for showing initiative to reach out to Barwon Water.
Mackenzie also received a small educational prize pack as a reward for her focus on water and sustainability.
Mr Garcia encouraged all schools to become SWEP schools.
“With funding assistance from Barwon Water and the Victorian Government, there is no cost for schools to join up to the three-year program,” he said.
“Not only that, SWEP includes curriculum resources and is a great way to combine math, science and environmental studies for students using real-world examples.”
Schools can sign up online at myswep.com.au.
More information about the SWEP grants program can be found at www.barwonwater.vic.gov.au/community-and-education/teachers-and-students/swep.
