School students lead grassroots green festival

OCEAN Grove primary school students encouraged their parents, families and community to think differently about waste and recycling when a twilight event returned on the weekend.

Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School hosted the second edition of its Earthfest festival on Friday evening at Ocean Grove Community Park, with the aim of encouraging locals to care for the planet for future generations.

The event included collection points for items such as bottle caps, corks and bread tags, and educational workshops about recycling and repurposing common household items to save waste going to landfill.

The evening event also had activities like live music and environment-focussed activities to keep young and old green-conscious residents engaged and entertained.

Earth Fest co-ordinator Susan Constable said she was excited to bring the popular event to Ocean Grove.

“In 2020 we were cancelled due to COVID lockdowns four days out. Last year we didn’t even try but this year Earth Fest is back bigger and stronger, hoping to bring everyone together to build a stronger community and a collective response to environmental issues,” she said.

“The children in each year level at school have partnered with local environmental groups and earth-conscious businesses to bring Earth Fest to the Ocean Grove Community Park.

“It’s a chance to come together in a festival atmosphere, with live music, food vans and numerous activities, to learn about what’s happening to our earth, why it is happening and hear from our local earth carers. We hope to inspire action, voice and solutions.”