Mr McIness has been working tirelessly on making this project a reality for the last two years. With the support of grants from Wollongong City Council and a grant from the State Government through the Environmental Trust, Eco School Program (both of which were very gratefully received) - the dream became a reality late in February 2007.

School Frog Ponds and Sensory Garden
During the past two weeks, the Secret Garden on the southern side of A Block has seen a huge change. The garden was completely cleared out by Peter Nolan and Reid Morgan from Habitat Ponds. Six frog ponds (one extra was added) were placed along the garden. The following week the native garden was planted out. These plants came from the Warrigal Native Nursery which is part of the Aboriginal Education and Training Centre. The plants selected are all based on the senses - taste, smell and feel and how aborigines used them. Thanks to Byron McGregor (ex pupil of Austi) and Chris Butler for selecting the plants. Students from all classes were heavily involved in getting the ponds ready and putting the water plants in each pond. Students were also involved in the planting out of the sensory garden. They are now responsible for the watering and upkeep of the gardens and frog ponds. The final tasks to be done are a booklet explaining each plant (all have been numbered) and how the aborigines use it and a number of bird boxes and possum hollows to be out in the trees in the garden. The garden is an excellent resource for the school and I would like to thank Peter Nolan, Reid Morgan, Byron McGregor and Chris Butler for all their hard work.  The garden was funded by the Eco-schools Environment Project through the State Government and it was completed within budget. 

Peter McIness

The following pictures show our work in progress with frog ponds, sensory plants and lots of hard working students.

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