ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTRE

Ms SIMMONS (Morialta) (15:30): Tomorrow is World Environment Day, and today I want to talk about the Environmental Education Centre based at Rostrevor College in my electorate of Morialta and run by the dynamic and passionate Scott Witters. The aim of the centre is to educate our young people as to how the various sciences and the environment are related, and how this acquired knowledge can be used to solve the environmental problems we face today and into the future. The children are taught that new patterns of behaviour, including both personal lifestyle choices and informal social action that reflect this care, will be needed if we are to manage properly and utilise our natural environment and its associated resources responsibly.

Scott feels strongly about the old adage 'think globally, act locally' and works with the students to develop fully their talents and appreciation of wildlife by having a hands-on experience with native Australian animals. The centre is now in its third year of operation and is host to more than 50 weird and wonderful critters, including an assortment of reptiles, including some impressive size snakes (of which I still remain terrified) and some unusual and very beautiful lizards and goannas, which he has actually got me to like. He also has mammals, birds, fish, arachnids (spiders), crustaceans and invertebrates which are housed on a permanent basis. Some of the more unique and most popular residents with the children include a red-tailed black cockatoo, sand goanna, squirrel gliders, tarantulas, pythons, Murray cod, a laughing kookaburra and, believe it or not, a freshwater crocodile.

The great thing about the centre is that it can be booked and used by all South Australian schools, and I would encourage all members to take an interest in this unique facility and to encourage their local schools to visit the facility. Many of our schools have good environmental programs and should be congratulated. They are heavily involved with Waterwatch, Airwatch, Frogwatch, worm farming, composting, recycling and propagation, but not every school can provide the sort of experience available at the Environmental Education Centre.

As adults, we are often confused by the political and scientific debate related to the state of our planet's health. However, the Environmental Education Centre works with the children through the resident animals to sort out what actions they can take to contribute to a healthy environment and what their actions might do to contribute to environmental sustainability into the future.

The Environmental Education Centre is also based very close (just a short walk) to Morialta Conservation Park, and Rostrevor has its own 'Our Patch' site where they practise weed management, site preparation, seed collection, planting seedlings, watering and biological surveys. A great deal is learnt about the natural environment through being actively involved in site management and survey work. Students are constantly discovering new flora and fauna and continue to be amazed by the biodiversity found at this site.

Visiting schools are also able to take advantage of a guided walk through Morialta Conservation Park (which I must recommend to every school in our state) and learn about biodiversity or the interesting history associated with the Kaurna people, the first inhabitants of this unique landscape. I understand from Mr Witters that demand for this type of environmental education is increasing each year, as teachers strive to find more stimulating ways to engage students in learning, and I congratulate our teaching staff for recognising the value of this hands-on methodology.

I have now been fortunate enough to visit the Environmental Education Centre on several occasions. I have noticed that it is a constantly evolving entity, reflecting the changing needs of the students, the latest addition being a 20-metre long aviary housing native parrots, owls and cockatoos. I was particularly impressed with the dedication of the special class whom I met last month and who spend most Friday afternoons looking after and with the wildlife. In conclusion, I commend the Rostrevor Environmental Education Centre to the house as an exciting, challenging and stimulating science lab, with a real and precious connection with the environment to the benefit of our South Australian children. I would like to add my congratulations to Scott Whitters, who has also been nominated for a Prime Minister's award for his dedication to environmental teaching, and to the principal, Jeff Crozier, and others, involved in this important centre.