Green Corps graduation, Friday, August 17

A group of ten young volunteers have done their bit for the environment and community and picked up some valuable working skills under a Green Corps program run by Mission Australia to assist the Gumeracha Walking Trail in the Mt Crawford Forest Reserve.

The Mission Australia Green Corp team will officially graduate this week (Friday, August 17 at 10.30am) from the six month conservation and heritage project.

Team members will be available for photos and interviews at the graduation ceremony at the Torrens Valley Community Centre, Main Street, Gumeracha.

Mission Australia’s State Director Mark Herselman said the program, run in partnership with the Adelaide Hills Council and Forestry SA, had been very successful.

The team’s work included working closely with Forestry SA to erect three kilometres of high tensile fencing at Monarto to prevent trail bike riders from entering the properties and damaging native scrublands. They also made valuable enclosures around Banksia marginata at the Pinky Flat and Jenkins scrub sites to protect the Category 5 endangered trees and allow their saplings to grow without being destroyed by feral animals.

“The participants have been involved in everything from clearing poisonous weeds from creekbeds to replacing ceiling panels in heritage listed building sites,” Mr Herselman said. “It’s a very time and labour intensive project that’s been great for the community and for the young people involved.”

Green Corps is an Australian Government training program, which provides young people with the opportunity to volunteer their time and effort to conserve, preserve and restore Australia’s natural environment and cultural heritage. Participants receive a training allowance, uniforms, safety equipment and nationally accredited training (Statement of Attainment from Certificate 2 in Horticulture, Senior First Aid Certificate).

Media are very welcome to attend the graduation event.

For more information, please contact:

Mark Herselman, Mission Australia State Director (08) 8218 2800 or 0403 183 002 or Chris Rann, Rann Communication, (08) 8211 7771