Sustainability at MGC

The Environment is held in high regard at Melbourne Girls’ College. Situated on Yarra Boulevard in
Richmond, between the Yarra River and Burnley Gardens, students study with the calls of native
birds flying through the native vegetation on the river banks. They learn how the traditional owners
of the area, the Wurundjeri people, lived in harmony with the environment and how European
settlers and their decedents have abused and degraded this once pristine environment. Just
downstream of the school in a former river flood plain, lies an ancient Eucalyptus tree that still bears
the scare where an indigenous person had carved out bark to make a canoe.

Occupying a former landfill site, the school stands testament to the environmental wrongs that have
occurred in recent history. As a leader in Science and Technology education, it also stands as a
centre for excellence in education for sustainability. Students study ecology, environmental physics
and chemistry. They explore environmental issues through practical based subjects such as
Technology, Marine Biology and Outdoor education.

The college has a large, well informed student environment team made up of representatives from
each year level that meet weekly to plan and discuss environmental initiatives. These students work
closely with the sustainability staff team and are form an integral part of the Melbourne Girls’
College Sustainability Collective.

The Sustainability Collective is a group of MGC staff, students, parents, school councillors and
community members interested in achieving the best environmental outcomes for students at the
college.

The collective assist by:

Sourcing and installing energy efficient and environmentally sensitive products /resources
Providing expert guest speakers for classes
Providing policy advice and expertise in setting goals for the School Environmental
Management Plan
Provide expertise and support in completing grant applications
Assist with planning school developments such as the new level one upgrade
Informing the school community of events relating to sustainability issues and climate
change
Helping to connecting the community
For more information on the MGC SC – please contact Mr Andrew Vance: avance@mgc.vic.edu.au
The MGC Student environment team is an extra-curricular group who keep many of the adults in the
school community to account in terms of environmental sustainability. The team runs many great
student-led projects:
The annual Student environment Conference open to all youth passionate about the
environment
National Schools Tree Day
Clean Up Australia Day
Nude Food Day
Solar powered Earth Hour Concert
International River / Coastal Health
conferences (Firestarter)
Ride to school / work days
World Environment Day / World
Ocean Day
Powershift 2009
My River Yarra / Youth Lead
Environment Week
YOUth Decide 2009
Energy, waste and water awareness
campaigns

Students who wish to become involved in the MGC Student Environment team, should fill out an online
application form found on the student environment page on the school intranet or simply
contact the college environment captains, Ruby Albury, Emma Lewis, Mim DiNapoli or Priyanka
Banerjee.

Melbourne Girls’ College is officially a Resource Smart AussiVIC Sustainable School. We have had
many successes always yet strive to become more sustainable. We set aspirational goals and hope to
show the leadership that is required to avoid runaway climate change and the associated impacts.
We are proud to partner with Yarra Council, Richmond Rotary, Yarra Climate Now and other
community members in our commitment to environmental sustainability.

Our School Sustainability Policy and School Environmental Management Plan will be available on our
website in the near future.

MGC Environmental Campaigns

2005 (pre- black balloons) Hank campaign – building a papier-mâché rhinoceros to show what a
tonne looks like
2008 International Coastal Health Conference- Main stage presenters with Lorne Aireys Inslet
Primary School (Townsville)
2008 Nude food campaign:
2008 Yarra Flowtilla- Yarra River Keepers Association
2009 Clean Up Australia Day:
2009 MGC contingent at POWERSHIFT (Sydney):
MGC students pedalling for Earth Hour at Federation Square March 2009:
Earth Hour Solar powered concert at MGC March 2009:

Andrew Vance

| Environmental Programs Coordinator | Melbourne Girls' College |
Yarra Blvd. RICHMOND. Vic, 3121 03 9425 8784 03 9428 2737