Student’s letter grows into new water system

A PASSIONATE Ocean Grove primary school pupil has scored her school a new sprinkler system.

Our Lady Star of the Sea Grade 4 pupil Mackenzie Fraser wrote to Barwon Water earlier this year to help the school buy an irrigation system for its vegetable garden.

The garden is presently being watered by dutiful students, under supervision from school staff member Kellie Clark.

But Mackenzie’s experience at her home garden inspired her to seek a similar efficient automated system through a round of school grants from the water authority.

Mackenzie’s advocacy thrilled her school, with staff and students now set to reap the time and water-saving benefits of the new system.

“I am certainly proud of Mackenzie and her friends for their initiative and care. The school garden is a great place for our students to learn about the value of water to the environment,” school principal Kerryn Sells said.

Although she has since moved interstate, Mackenzie returned to school with her mum to discover the good news and receive her own educational prize pack and congratulations from Barwon Water educational officer Fernando Garcia.

The funding came through Barwon Water’s Schools Water Efficiency Program (SWEP), which promotes water efficiency and education in local classrooms.

“By using the SWEP grants available to schools, we were able to agree to provide funding towards an irrigation system,” Mr Garcia said.

“With funding assistance from Barwon Water and the Victorian Government, there is no cost for schools to join up to the three-year program.

“Not only that, SWEP includes curriculum resources and is a great way to combine math, science and environmental studies for students using real-world examples.”