Green college sets state ‘first’ with animal attractions

Alex de Vos
In a Victorian first, Torquay College students are getting up close and personal with reptiles, insects and birds as part of a new environmental program.
In between traditional English and maths classes, students are feeding and caring for the school’s 150 animals, including a bearded dragon, an endangered growling grass frog and Stanley, a four-metre carpet python.
Teacher David Pace said the new environmental education centre, which featured a reptile enclosure and a walk-through aviary, was a “magnificent resource and a huge help for teaching”.
“It gives the students an amazing experience and teaches them empathy,” Mr Pace said.
“They look at habitats, the environment and their carbon footprint while playing an active role in caring for the animals.
“We couldn’t do it without their help.”
Mr Pace said the “self-sufficient” centre, which opened late last year, used solar power and recycled water.
The new centre was “just one” part of the college’s green-tinged curriculum, he said.
“We also have an Aboriginal garden and food garden – this is just one element of the bigger picture,” he said.
“They all supplement the work in the classroom.”
Student Jessica, 10, considered the aviary her favourite part of the centre.
She said the aviary held 60 species of birds, including a scarlet-chested parrot, a Madagascar weaver, green-winged dove and rainbow lorikeet.
“My favourite bird is the scarlet-chested parrot because it’s so colourful.”