School News

This section of our website is reporting on some of the fantastic environmental programs that are happening in North East Victorian schools. It is hoped that this page will not only recognise the extraordinary work being done in our schools, but also promote programs and networking between schools.  We would particularly like to thank the schools featured here for their willingness to share, and we encourage other schools interested in undertaking similar ventures to make direct contact with these schools through the contact details provided.

Featured on this website are:  

•  Victory Lutheran College
• Tallangatta Primary Schools
•  Wodonga Primary School

What else is New?

New Composter for Bogong Outdoor Education Centre - Out with the Old and in with the New

 Over the winter, the Bogong Campus took part in ‘The Living Bin’ (a food waste collection process which occurs in the 4 major Victorian ski resorts, collected by 4SITE and run in conjunction with Sustainability Victoria and NEVWaste). This allowed our existing compost a chance to break down. The old wooden traditional style compost has been removed and has been replaced by a new Jora JK400 Composter. The Swedish made Jora ‘Restauranteur’ is a fully insulated, rotating and heat generating, double compartment tumbler which can take up to 80 kilograms of organics per week. There are no worms involved in this system as it relies on the decomposition of matter through the adequate movement of air as well as the maintenance of a constant temperature through adequate insulation.

Students empty out the dining room compost bucket every morning and evening, adding a cup full of sawdust and then give the Jora a few rotations. It is expected that the compost will take 4 to 6 weeks to break down before being added to the existing garden beds. We are very excited to be able to add meat and bones with the added bonus being the elimination of odours or vermin.  

 Did you know?

• The average Victorian spends $1200 a year on wasted food (the cost of an average seasons pass at the snow!)
• The largest contributor to Victoria’s carbon footprint is food, contributing 37% of Victoria’s footprint (this includes food production, processing, packaging and transport)

Michelle Forrer
Sustainability Coordinator Bogong Campus
Bogong Outdoor Education Centre