Animals & Permaculture

Animals Trivia Night

Term 3 saw another successful TC Trivia Night hosted by the Working with Animals program. With a record number of tickets sales and silent auction items, the night was a roaring success. With a wide variety of trivia themes and topics, the scores were tight and two trivia teams (led by TC staff!) were neck and neck throughout the evening. Many people walked away a winner, with multiple games scattered throughout the night, including the annual paper plane challenge and the Weetbix eating challenge. With  FAF teacher Ryan Thornton taking away prizes in multiple events, some sources claimed it was rigged!

This even could not run without our amazing student team. Our students carried the load with seeking donations and sponsors, and collecting a wide range of exciting prizes for our raffle and silent auction. Students ran the games, events, sold raffle tickers and welcomed guests.

We would like to thank all of our supports and donors to make this event possible. Our fundraising aim this year was to raise funds to help us design and install hospital-grade holding facilities in our Feather and Fur room, for sick animals and for respite from the heat of summer. We are hoping to also install shade cloth in areas of the paddock to provide shade in our warmer months.

Thanks to your support, we were able to raise $7,700! We are so happy with this result.

Alongside thanking our TC community with their generous donations, we would like to thank the following businesses who provided their support:

  • Madison Avenue Hair and Salon

  • Salted Carmel Cafe

  • Heidelberg Golf Club

  • Officeworks Doncaster

  • A Lot of Good Stuff

  • Yarra Valley Golf Club

  • Bakers Delight Diamond Creek

  • Phayao ThaiMassage

  • MD Health  

  • Carluccis

  • Chemist Warehouse

  • Horse Land Eltham

  • Toy World

  • Big W

  • KMART

  • Coles

  • In Balance Osteopathy

  • Balance Gymnastics

  • Aquarena

  • Bunnings

  • Inline Therapies

  • Merry People

  • Melbourne Museum

  • United Beverage

  • MYER

  • Halls Gap Zoo

  • Moonlit Sanctuary

  • Bullen Arts and Gardens

  • The Greenery

  • Hampers with a Bite

  • Totally Reptiles

  • Savers

  • Rossana Golf Club

Farm Camp

Farm camp was so much fun. We learned about how to handle/be around animals, shear sheep, give animals ultrasounds, grow plants (that then get fed to animals), maintain a vineyard, and more. But my favourite part of farm camp was the horses. 
Willow Hunter

VET Permaculture Excursion to Petty’s Orchard and Yarra Trail

Last week, the VET Permaculture class embarked on an insightful excursion to Petty Heritage Organic Orchard and the Yarra Trail wetlands. The aim was to explore the Highlands Southern Fall bioregion, where the Yarra River originates.

Students learned about the site’s rich history, from thousands of years of Indigenous stewardship to early European settlement. Petty’s Orchard, the last remaining orchard from this period, served as a living link to the past.

The students split into two explorer teams. One focused on documenting local fauna using iNaturalist and Nillumbik Shire Council’s “Animals” guide, while the other team concentrated on plant life, identifying indigenous and introduced species. Both groups worked hard to understand the region’s unique ecosystem.

Blessed with favourable weather, VET teacher Petra Leaford and reptiles teacher Duncan Sadler along with education support staff Catherine Kingshott and Nick Moody, guided the students through the site included the heritage orchard, wetlands, original homestead site and the Yarra Trail. Duncan’s expertise in bird life added an extra layer of excitement as the students identified over 20 animal species.

The excursion fostered teamwork, curiosity, and a deeper connection to the local environment. It enhanced the students’ understanding of the region’s environmental and historical significance while instilling a greater appreciation for conservation.

CLASS OF 2024 Today we farewelled the wonderful class of 2024. Our animals program has been privileged to enjoyed so many of you making our program a fun and entertaining place to be! Thank you for the memories and we wish you all the best in the
CLASS OF 2024 Today we farewelled the wonderful class of 2024. Our animals program has been privileged to enjoyed so many of you making our program a fun and entertaining place to be! Thank you for the memories and we wish you all the best in the future! 🐸🐥🐭🐽🐤🪱🦋🪲
We are very proud of our student Jessica, who represented TC at the Zoo’s Victoria Youth Leadership Program for 2024. Jess was selected to work in a small group of like-minded students, to come up with potential solutions of ways that Zoo&rsquo
We are very proud of our student Jessica, who represented TC at the Zoo’s Victoria Youth Leadership Program for 2024. Jess was selected to work in a small group of like-minded students, to come up with potential solutions of ways that Zoo’s Victoria can help engage the local community to support the endangered Leadbeater’s possum. Jess collaborated with other students, learning from many different professionals linked into the recovery efforts currently underway to protect this adorable species. Jess presented her work and ideas to a packed conference room, full of student families, teachers and zoo staff. It was so inspiring listening to these passionate students present their ideas and demonstrate hope for the future of conservation! Thank you @zoosvictoria for a wonderful program- giving opportunities for students to extend themselves and experience science in the real world. Jessica is already planning on ways to continue this work at Templestowe College… stay tuned!
💡 Passion Project Spotlight 💡 Willow wanted to make a feeder for birds. She came across the idea to 3-D print this feeder base on the internet but did not know how to use it. She went to see DT teacher Matt Plummer who helped her print it out in
💡 Passion Project Spotlight 💡 Willow wanted to make a feeder for birds. She came across the idea to 3-D print this feeder base on the internet but did not know how to use it. She went to see DT teacher Matt Plummer who helped her print it out in her fave colour (thanks Matt!). She then went on a mission around the school to find a jar that would fit and luckily found one in the TC Farm preserving resources. Tailem wanted to do a project that helped conserve wild animals. He decided making a bird house from scratch was too expensive and instead bought a kit from the LaTrobe University Santuary Shop and make this house for lorikeets. He plans to put it in a lemon scented eucalypt in his garden.
See how I poop in the treehouse and not on the grass? Very mindful. Very manure.
A big warm thank you to all of the wonderful vet nurses that help care for our beautiful animals at TC. It is comforting to know that when we leave them in-clinic for treatment, they will receive lots of love and care from veterinary nurses! ❤️❤️
A big warm thank you to all of the wonderful vet nurses that help care for our beautiful animals at TC. It is comforting to know that when we leave them in-clinic for treatment, they will receive lots of love and care from veterinary nurses! ❤️❤️
The TC Animals Mango Drive is back just in time for the warmer weather of 2024! The Mango Drive uses Bowen Special Mangos (previously known as Kensington Pride). When you buy mangos from the Mango Drive, you know the fruit is coming directly from t
The TC Animals Mango Drive is back just in time for the warmer weather of 2024! The Mango Drive uses Bowen Special Mangos (previously known as Kensington Pride). When you buy mangos from the Mango Drive, you know the fruit is coming directly from the farm to you. Your mangos aren’t being held for long periods in storage or ripening rooms. For $30, our mangos are packed in a single layer tray and each tray will weigh approximately 7kg. All mangos will need to be collected in-person from Templestowe College during our designated collection windows. We are unable to deliver these to you. Orders close on Monday, October 28th and have an estimated delivery date at the start of December. Official collection dates, times, and details will be emailed to buyers once we have been informed of the exact delivery date from the farm. We look forward to seeing all of the yummy ways you are using up your mangos. All funds raised go directly toward supporting the TC Working with Animals Program. We thank you for your ongoing support. PURCHASE YOURS TODAY AT https://www.trybooking.com/CWFII
And because apparently we just HATE SLEEPING, students were offered an opt-in sunrise walk back to Mt.Pilot. ☀️ With an astonishing 90% of students voluntarily crawling out of their tents at 5:30am, we had a full team present to sit peacefully and
And because apparently we just HATE SLEEPING, students were offered an opt-in sunrise walk back to Mt.Pilot. ☀️ With an astonishing 90% of students voluntarily crawling out of their tents at 5:30am, we had a full team present to sit peacefully and watch the sunrise. The students did amazingly well to embrace the peace, and spend the half hour in near silence listening to only the bird sounds (and a koala!) What a feat!
Day 2 was topped off with a sunset walk on top of Mount Pilot. We had a mad dash to the top to beat the sun, and were treated to a beautiful display!
Day 2 was topped off with a sunset walk on top of Mount Pilot. We had a mad dash to the top to beat the sun, and were treated to a beautiful display!
Farm Camp Day 2: Sheep & Lambs! Today we visited two different farms, both running sheep and lambs. We started the day off at @indigovalleylamb , and were fortunate to be walked around the farm (in perfect sunshine and blue skies!) to learn abo
Farm Camp Day 2: Sheep & Lambs! Today we visited two different farms, both running sheep and lambs. We started the day off at @indigovalleylamb , and were fortunate to be walked around the farm (in perfect sunshine and blue skies!) to learn about their philosophy and farm-to-plate approach. Lots of our students are excited to go and visit them at Eltham Farmers Market. Stop 2 was the vast Viewbank Farm. Students were lucky enough to visit at shearing time, able to watch the process of drafting, shearing and sorting the wool. Some of our students put their hands up to help with the shearing, learning how to safely and calmly restrain the sheep for their shearing. We are hoping to put these skills to use back at school when our own three sheep new their hooves trimmed or wool cut. As always, farm dogs are a huge highlight on this camp, and there was no shortage of face licks and hugs.
Farm Camp Day 1: after falling in love with the miniature highland cows, we met their LAMBS! Our students were lucky enough to be able to have lots of lamb cuddles, and even had a turn at ultra-sounding a pregnant ewe! 🏥 🐑
Farm Camp Day 1: after falling in love with the miniature highland cows, we met their LAMBS! Our students were lucky enough to be able to have lots of lamb cuddles, and even had a turn at ultra-sounding a pregnant ewe! 🏥 🐑
CLASS OF 2024 Today we farewelled the wonderful class of 2024. Our animals program has been privileged to enjoyed so many of you making our program a fun and entertaining place to be! Thank you for the memories and we wish you all the best in the We are very proud of our student Jessica, who represented TC at the Zoo’s Victoria Youth Leadership Program for 2024. Jess was selected to work in a small group of like-minded students, to come up with potential solutions of ways that Zoo&rsquo 💡 Passion Project Spotlight 💡 Willow wanted to make a feeder for birds. She came across the idea to 3-D print this feeder base on the internet but did not know how to use it. She went to see DT teacher Matt Plummer who helped her print it out in
See how I poop in the treehouse and not on the grass? Very mindful. Very manure.
A big warm thank you to all of the wonderful vet nurses that help care for our beautiful animals at TC. It is comforting to know that when we leave them in-clinic for treatment, they will receive lots of love and care from veterinary nurses! ❤️❤️ The TC Animals Mango Drive is back just in time for the warmer weather of 2024! The Mango Drive uses Bowen Special Mangos (previously known as Kensington Pride). When you buy mangos from the Mango Drive, you know the fruit is coming directly from t And because apparently we just HATE SLEEPING, students were offered an opt-in sunrise walk back to Mt.Pilot. ☀️ With an astonishing 90% of students voluntarily crawling out of their tents at 5:30am, we had a full team present to sit peacefully and Day 2 was topped off with a sunset walk on top of Mount Pilot. We had a mad dash to the top to beat the sun, and were treated to a beautiful display! Farm Camp Day 2: Sheep & Lambs! Today we visited two different farms, both running sheep and lambs. We started the day off at @indigovalleylamb , and were fortunate to be walked around the farm (in perfect sunshine and blue skies!) to learn abo Farm Camp Day 1: after falling in love with the miniature highland cows, we met their LAMBS! Our students were lucky enough to be able to have lots of lamb cuddles, and even had a turn at ultra-sounding a pregnant ewe! 🏥 🐑