Country Fair 2013

Finger-print tree

Panda Made Me Do It with Ex-Hurlstonians

The panda made me hug a tree

Daniel Zhao playing the Ping Pong game

Plant A Wish

Vincent and Julia with Kate Ritchie

Hurlstone held its annual Country Fair on the 31st of August. This was a great opportunity for us to have our own stand with many fun awareness games and booths. Our aim this year was to promote sustainable practices and raise awareness in our school and community.

Games included the Ping Pong and Slime game. Many people who tried our games out, found it extremely difficult to win. We also had many booths along with our fun games. A finger-print tree banner was hung at the back wall for people to come by, contribute and decorate our tree with their own finger prints. We had a Plant a Wish Scheme towards the right side, where those who approached us with a plastic bottle which was to be recycled and used as a tree pot, were given a free plant. There was also a Panda Made Me Do It booth where those who came by, could write a message on the whiteboard and take photos with our lovely panda, Jason and Andy. Accompanying the booth was Pin the Nose on the Panda game. The Environment Committee also handed out pamphlets to raise awareness for different campaigns.

We were lucky to have a special guest visit our stand, ex-Hurlstonian actress Kate Ritchie!

Thank you to everyone who dropped by our stand and we hope we've enlightened you to become more environmentally friendly!

Garden Party

We can only achieve great things if we work together as a team!

Best Year 12 Members of 2013

Food!

On the 30th of August, the executives of the Environment Committee surprised members by throwing them a Garden Party as part of member appreciation. Members were reminded that it was all about them and each and every one of them were thanked for their large contributions to the environment and making the committee what it is today. Membership cards were given out and members enjoyed some bonding time with each other whilst feasting on a whole heap of lollies, chips, fairy bread, biscuits and more! Members were also encouraged to bring their own reusable cups for drinks as a small gesture to help save the environment.

Yen Eco Leadership Camp

Working together to create change

Youth Environment Network 2013

Getting ready for high-ropes

Brainstorming 'change' ideas

Teaching Year 3 students about the environment 

This month, five Hurlstone students: Vincent Anthony, Julia Pham, Tanya Huang, Cindy Nguyen, and Melissa Tran, were selected to attend the Youth Environmental Network Eco-Leadership camp at Wooglemai Environmental Education Centre. The 4 day camp was hosted by OzGreen and about 30 students from 11 schools around the South West Sydney Region attended. The camp aimed to bring together a network of like-minded students who were passionate about working towards a sustainable planet and to help them develop quality leadership skills that would help them gain the ability to teach their peers.


The camp was an amazing experience for young people to make new connections, and meet people with the same passion to not only save the environment, but to share their knowledge to others. Workshops were run throughout the camp. These workshops helped the students gain more and better knowledge and understanding of environmental and social issues, including climate change and the inequality of resources around the world. Not only did they learn about environmental and social issues, but the workshops (facilitated by teachers and OzGreen-Sue Lennox) also taught them valuable leadership skills that would allow them to return to their schools and teach their own peers.
The camp provided them with many fun and memorable experiences. Getting to hear stories and ideas from other young people like them was truly inspiring and the workshops gave them the motivation to work hard as a team to make a change for the better.

UWS Excursion

The Hawkesbury Forest Experiment

On the 9th of August, eight members of the Environment Committee were given the opportunity to go on an excursion to the University of Western Sydney. It was a fun experience for all as they learnt about new and interesting things including solar energy, animals, and scientific experiments such as the Hawkesbury Forest Experiment which was conducted at the university itself. The aim of the Hawkesbury Forest Experiment is to investigate and test many different variables including how Australian forests adapt to rising CO2 levels, rising temperature, and drought and how these factors and soil feritility impact the productivity and water yields of Australian forests. It is a significant experiment because it enables planning for the sustainable management of Australia's native planted forests in the future.

The excursion was an amazing experience because it allowed everyone to open their minds to new ideas and let them realise the importance of sustaining the environment. Those who attended the excursion realised that many people were taking actions to save the environment and became motivated to do the same. A big thank you to Mr Morrison for being kind enough the drive the students!