Green Corps - October 07

While the kids were at the beach or hanging out down town, a hard-working group of young people, some of them ex-students were busily planting out 180 native trees in Armidale High School’s Native Woodland.

Green Corps, which is funded through the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and co-ordinated by Greening Australia, provides on the job experience and training for young people aged 17 - 20. The local team is co-ordinated by Uralla Rivercare and Southern New England Landcare and is based in Uralla. It has 9 members. Green Corps teams are employed for 6 months and they undertake a large number of environmental projects in that time. The aim of the Uralla team is to plant 8,000 native trees in the district as well as rehabilitation of the Uralla creek, which is their major project.

Landowners requiring assistance with planting, fencing, weed control and other environmental projects can contact SNELC early in the year to book a convenient time for the team to come. There is a nominal charge per day and landowners are expected to provide all materials and some tools.

Team leader Tim Haydon said that the Department advertises in local newspapers during the first half of the year for young people interested in joining a team. They are paid $238.00 per week and receive nationally accredited training in Environmental Management, a senior First Aid Certificate, OHS Qualifications, a Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management and exposure to future employers such as landowners.

The team members said that they liked working in the outdoors and in small groups and they appreciated their training taking place in an outdoor classroom. They were also able to stay fit and develop physical skills on the job and would recommend a position in a future Green Corps team for any school leaver.

Steve McFall digging planting hole

Mitch Ball staking tree

Ben Robinson adding mulch

Angus Baillie with newspaper weed barrier

Group Photo:
Back Row: Scott Sharp, Mitch Ball. Ben Robinson, Angus Baillie, Steve McFall
Front Row: Harry Roberts, Marcus McDonald, Zac Grubb, Tim Haydon (Leader)
Absent: Brad Hague