The City has partnered with the Secondary Education Support Centre for the past 5 years in delivering the program. This year students dedicated more than 150 hours of service managing 7.5 hectares of the Railway Heritage Trail Reserve, working to clean up, undertaking Path maintenance, Weed removal and Revegetation maintenance.

The City of Kalamunda led 15 excursions teaching students about the Importance of Friends Groups and Community Stewardship in looking after our beautiful bushland in the City of Kalamunda; the construction of the new bike trail through the reserve; native animals; the impact of weeds; revegetation and planting. Students also learnt about the impact of rubbish on our bushland and wildlife, frogs, controlled burns, microbats and their role in controlling mosquitoes, jarrah dieback and the native orchids found in the region.

Mayor Margaret Thomas said, “A number of community members assisted us, volunteering their time to teach their expert subjects, and I would like to thank all of you very much.”

“Our aim is to not only educate the students about the bushland and its management, but we try and instil values and principles they can utilise in all aspects of their lives, Working as a team, Asking Questions, Learning outside of a classroom, Keeping ourselves and each other safe and Never giving up.”

“Our vision for Adopt-a-Patch is for the City of Kalamunda to continue to partner with local schools to educate and empower our youth; to grow in them a love for their environment; and to provide them the opportunity to act responsibly as thoughtful citizens, volunteers and stewards of our bushland.”

“Kalamunda Secondary Education Support Centre is exemplifying this vison. Well done to all staff at the school for their commitment to excellence and to empowering young people.”

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Australia is committed to equipping, engaging and empowering young people to find their purpose, passion and place in the world.

The Award is about individual challenge, variety of activity, duration, support and teamwork and recognition. As every individual is different, so too are the challenges that young people undertake to achieve their Award. With guidance from their Award Leader, activity Assessor or other Award volunteers, each young person is encouraged to look at themselves, their interests, abilities, and ambitions, then set themselves challenges in the four different Sections of the Award (Voluntary Service, Skill, Physical Recreation and Adventurous Journey).