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Members of the Green Army have attended their graduation ceremony at the Koala Conservation Centre, following a 23 week program of extensive environmental works in and around Phillip Island.

An Australian Government initiative, the Green Army offers young people aged between 17 and 24 the opportunity to gain practical training and experience while working in their local environment.

As a shared project, the group was coordinated and supervised by Conservation Volunteers Australia, and sponsored by the dedicated staff at Phillip Island Nature Parks, Bass Coast Shire Council and Landcare.

During their time, the nine members of the Green Army took on a range of tasks including the erection of 600 metres of wallaby-proof fencing at the Koala Conservation Centre and revegetation projects at Oswin Roberts Reserve, Fiveways Reserve, the Ventnor Koala Reserve and the recently opened Scenic Estate Conservation Reserve. In all, approximately 40,000 grasses, shrubs and trees were planted across these reserves, as well as in the Bass Hills.

There was also significant removal of woody weeds in Oswin Roberts Reserve, Summerlands Peninsula and Observation Point, at the mouth of the Rhyll Inlet wetlands.

Commenting on the program, Tolly Das, Conservation Volunteers Australia’s Regional Manager Gippsland, stated “through this project the group has not only delivered some tangible benefit to their local environment they also learned substantial experience on job related skills and training in conservation and land management that will improve their future career opportunity.”

Phillip Island Nature Parks Ranger Daniel Kallstrom added “we were fortunate to have a group of young, enthusiastic participants interested in both learning about, and contributing to, the ongoing conservation and environmental activities undertaken here on Phillip Island.”

The graduates were introduced Bass Coast Shire Mayor Kimberley Brown, local MP Brian Paynter and Federal Minister for the Environment Greg Hunt during their graduation ceremony and, following the presentations, participants and visitors undertook site tours of both the Koala Conservation Centre and Scenic Estate Conservation Reserve to witness first hand some of the results of their efforts. 

For more information on the Green Army go to www.environment.gov.au/land/green-army

Images: Green Army graduates at the ceremony to mark their 23 week program (top) and work undertaken by the Green Army on Phillip Island (below).

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