Ivanhoe School wins national Junior Landcare award

Above: Back row – left to right: Coral Slade, Jada Ettrich, William Clark, Kylan Evans, Robert Clark, Cody Gallagher, Sofia Kacisolomone, Nadia Robertson. Back: Jonathan Tuiqali, Ray Turaga. Front Row left to right: Caelan Veentra, Henry Linnett, Myesha Slade, Aisake Tuiqali, Isla Huntly, Keira Freeman. Front row: Aiddson Slade, Kye-anna Slade, Azaliah Johnson, Cea-anna Harris.

Excitement soared at the National Landcare Awards last Wednesday evening when the winner was announced for the 2022 Woolworths Junior Landcare Team Award, with Ivanhoe Central School in NSW taking home the top spot.

The small, remote school in far west NSW was one of seven finalists in the running for the award, which recognises a school, youth organisation or young community landcare team that is implementing landcare practices within the local community or school.

The school’s Outback Adventure Farm has been developed on the grounds of the school, in the township of around 200 people, and aims to drive learning, by making education real and meaningful.

The school stocks an honesty box in the main street, to share fresh fruit, vegetables and eggs.

Students are encouraged to be involved in all aspects of the farm from basic planting and picking at kindergarten level to more advanced mathematical equations, solutions, nutrition and building associated with running any farm enterprise.

Since launching in 2020, The Outback Adventure Farm has expanded due to the student's continued desire to learn more, understand and participate.

The concept of growing a farm from bare ground has enabled the students and wider community to see what can be achieved when working as a team.

Already NSW state award winners, the Ivanhoe students beat North Ainslie Public School (ACT), Tempy Primary School (Vic.) Wynward High School (Tas.), Guardian Childcare Centre (SA), Forest Crescent Primary School (WA) and Manyallaluk School from the Northern Territory.