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:

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.