On Thursday 4^th May 2017, we held our 3^rd Gippsland Sustainable Schools expo at St Pauls Warrigal Campus, many thanks to them for hosting the event which was attended by over 250 students and represented some 13 schools from around the district and as far as Bairnsdale.

This years theme was on sustainable food into the future and we broached subjects as diverse as eating insects and what the comparable.

There was 14 individual workshop stations that had kids learning about Bees, composting, dairy cows, seedling panting, renewable energy, indigenous foods, future eating, and water in the landscape to name a few.

We even had the support of some local celebrities in Tammy Logan (https://gippslandunwrapped.com/ ) and Steve & Sally (https://www.gippslandjersey.com.au/ ), this helped create some media around the event, where featuring on the local news station can only help spread our message.

Will Tait, (http://www.ourplanet.com.au/home/opemodel) was once again, instrumental in gathering all the students and weaving his magic to keep them engaged and on the edge of their seats. Will is thought provoking and fantastic with all age levels. We have used Will’s skills for the past 3 years and could not do without him.

One of the many displays that we had on the day, this was from Neerim District Primary School

Sally from Gippsland Jersey

Learning about where Real milk comes from, a Jersey cow from Gippsland Jersey.

Mary Dunn is a passionate bee keeper whom helps local people set up bee hives in the region, but had some great activities for the kids to learn about bee pollination

Learning about renewable energy with Ian Southall from Mirboo North Community Energy project, I an also is executive officer for the Gippsland Climate Change Network

The walk down to the composting station

Melissa Pavey, Glengarry Primary school Kitchen garden teacher, taking the kids through the St Pauls Kitchen garden

Below is the program, we also provided fresh fruit for morning tea. Each school was given a bag of gifts and learning material to take back to each school. We sourced some bags of vegetable seeds that were sent as a thanks for attending to each participating school.

11:45 – 12:15pm   Activity Rotation A (30 mins)	1. Food and Future Eaters – Will Tait 2. Exploring Food Garden – St Pauls 3. Compost & Worm Farm – Jessie Ablett 4. Waste Audit – Nola Anderson 5. Insect Hotel – Raquel Harris 6. Food Packaging and Marine Pollution – Tammy Logan; Gippsland Unwrapped 8. Biodiversity Audit – Alison Taylor 9. Energy Trailer; Food & Energy – Ian Southall 10. Organic seedlings – Leni Teng 11. Hidden Water – Gippsland Water 12. Organic soil and growing – Liz Clay 13. West Gippsland Beekeepers – Marty Dunn 14. Bush Tucker – Cheryl Drayton
12:15 – 1:00pm (45 mins)	Lunch, further time exploring the displays
1:00 – 1:30pm   Activity Rotation B (30 mins)	1. Food and Future Eaters – Will Tait 2. Exploring Food Garden – St Pauls 3. Composting & Worm Farms – Jessie Ablett 4. Waste Audit – Nola Anderson 5. Insect Hotel – Raquel Harris 6. Food Packaging and Marine Pollution – Tammy Logan; Gippsland Unwrapped 8. Biodiversity Audit – Alison Taylor 9. Energy Trailer; Food & Energy – Ian Southall 10. Organic seedlings – Leni Teng 11. Hidden Water – Gippsland Water 12. Organic soil and growing – Liz Clay 13. West Gippsland Beekeepers – Marty Dunn 14. Bush Tucker – Cheryl Drayton