Budding greenies graduate

SIX budding horticulturists have finished their apprenticeships with the City of Greater Dandenong Council.
Secondary school students Dylan Heft, Aaron Plunkett, Joe Myall, Jason Adair, Russell McIntyre, and Ben Hompot, all aged between 15 and 17, last week completed their Certificate II in Horticulture while working with the council’s bushland management team.
Students helped the team complete tasks such as weed eradication, path construction, assisting at a volunteer indigenous nursery and tree planting.
During the 2007 school year, the group was employed by council one day a week as part of their Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL). Traineeship Advisory Services Australia delivered the theoretical side of their education, culminating in the Certificate II in Horticulture.
City mayor Youhorn Chea said the council was proud to help local young people by providing valuable work experience.
“This initiative gave students the opportunity to explore their vocation of choice by gaining hands-on experience in the field,” he said.
“Essentially, they have beautified our city’s bushland reserves while gaining the knowledge and skills required to enter the workforce or complete further study.
“All the students were enthusiastic about their work, and it’s certainly been a job well done.”
To celebrate their achievement, the group held a graduation ceremony at Fotheringham Reserve in Dandenong on Friday.
The traineeship program will continue next year.
For more details: visit www.tasa.com.au.