By Bridget Cook
Known as the Bunyip Bushfire Recovery Gang, the young group of conservation volunteers received their certificates which they worked towards as Green Corps participants over the past six months.
The group consists of nine members, many from the Cardinia Shire, aged between 17 and 20.
As part of their training the group moved into the Bunyip State Park to help rehabilitate burnt areas from the February fires.
The team worked alongside Parks Victoria Gembrook under the guidance of Andrew Musgrove.
The team gained many skills and completed many projects since they started with Green Corps, including a new bridle trail called Tonimbuk Bridle Trail, the effective installation of erosion control at Bunyip State Park, cleared tracks and picnic grounds and helped install a new water tank at Parks Victoria, Gembrook.
Green Corps Team Leader Victoria Hemming said over the past six months the team had done an outstanding job in all the tasks they applied themselves to.
“They have embraced the steep learning curve that their time in Green Corps presented,” Ms Hemming said.
“They now finish with not only outstanding skills to take them into the environmental sector, they also have developed brilliant personal skills important to any workplace such as team work, the ability to use initiative and excellent communication skills.”
Most graduates are hoping to enter into the environmental sector through landscaping or agricultural apprenticeships, whilst some are hoping to return as part time fire fighters next year.
Friends and family and a number of special guests including Cardinia Shire Mayor Bill Pearson, Ian Chisholm from Cardinia Environmental Coalition and Olga Ghiri from Parks Victoria attended the graduation at Mortimer Picnic Grounds, last Wednesday.
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