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2005 (c) Peninsula Community Access Newspaper Inc

 

Campus starts bush tucker group

 

Brisbane Water Secondary College Umina Campus has begun a propagation group to grow native bush food plants.

The school's indigenous student program, which operated a campus coffee shop, would use the ingredients.

"It serves delicious foods and a wonderful range of coffees, all prepared and served by indigenous students," said relieving college principal Mr Gus Vrolyk.

The plant propagation group has been set up by science teacher Mr Brendan Medley to meet a demand for food with native ingredients and flavourings.

The group, calling themselves The Bunyips, consists of Jacob Jones, Graydon Gorst, Jordan Farrell and John Roberts.

It has started seed collection, plant propagating and planting to provide a long term sustainable food source for the café.

Mr Vrolyk said the group had been involved in cleaning out the growing room, preparing garden beds and was looking forward to the successful cultivation of lemon myrtle, lillypillies, minyam and other useful plants.

They were also active on Planet Ark's tree planting day, undertaking creek remediation work to prevent erosion and sedimentation by planting several angophora floribunda trees.

Native seeds collected and planted included 45 banksia serrata ("old man" banksia), 35 xanthorrhoeas (grass trees) and 250 angiozanthos manglesii (kangaroo paw).

The seeds were now in the process of germination in the plant room in the science block.

Gosford Council has also been approached to supply 100 seedlings for planting.

Networking skills are being developed by the Bunyips to build bartering relationships with the school's P&C bushcare group, the school's agriculture farm and the café operation.

Produce and restoration activities are being exchanged for seedlings, storage space, fencing materials and fertiliser.

"The Bunyips have high hopes that the bush food produce can, on occasion, be exchanged for some tasty treats," Mr Vrolyk said.

Press release, August 2 Gus Vrolyk, Brisbane Water Secondary College