THE Green Army were recently saluted after finishing their first two projects hosted by the Hawkesbury Environment Network.
Federal Member for Macquarie Louise Markus and Hawkesbury Councillor Jill Reardon joined Green Army participants and educators, as-well-as members from HEN for an awards ceremony at the Hawkesbury Earth Care Centre to acknowledge the completion of the projects late last month.
The Green Army is a hands-on, practical environmental action program that supports local environment and heritage conservation projects across Australia.
A total of 14 Green Army participants were awarded certificates for the completion of their projects, which included earth care works at 12 different sites across the Hawkesbury.
Project manager for the program and HEN chairman, John Street, congratulated the students for their hard work and acknowledged the numerous services that assisted throughout the six month project.
“The participants turned up at the crack of dawn in the rain and cold to take part in this project,” Mr Street said.
“We thank you for your work; it certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed.”
Mrs Markus also praised the Green Army team, and others just like it across the region.
She said it was positive to see not only the benefits to the environment, but also the job opportunities that have opened up to the students.
“It is great to see some of the participants step into bush care and environmental jobs from the program, and we hope there are many more in the future,” she said.
Green Army participant Adriana Bogie said the program had inspired her to never work indoors again, saying she would rather be outside every day.
Pamela Rutledge thanked the organisers of the program, saying the experience had opened many doors for future employment.
“After I finished my uni degree I couldn’t find work,” Ms Rutledge said.
“This experience has now opened doors to other areas in the industry that I didn’t know about or had seen before.”
Community organisations, Landcare groups, natural resource management organisations, environment groups, Indigenous organisations, local councils and others can apply to host a Green Army project.
Projects must have a clear environment or heritage conservation focus and offer participants valuable practical experience, while supporting a safe work environment.
Each year the Australian Government will call for project ideas through project selection rounds.
The second round of Green Army projects is already underway in the Hawkesbury, in conjunction with HEN.
