Land Management
A greater awareness of the fragile nature of Australian soils, plus the overall increase in global pollution lead to the establishment of a Land Management course at Midland College in 1994 under the direction of Ted Johnson. The course has involved many community and industry groups to allow students a ‘hands on approach’ to learning about rehabilitating the natural environment, as well as establishing networks for future employment.
Over the years projects involving students have resulted in the revegetation of damaged landscapes on the Darling Ranges, along the catchment areas of the Swan and Helena Rivers and in salt affected farmlands. A regular visit is made to the salinity project at Tammin where students stay overnight at the Tammin ALCOA Land Care Education Centre Barracks. Regular field days at Karragullen have also been a feature of the course. Activities have also involved Men of the Trees, a volunteer group in the Swan Valley producing native seedlings.
In addition to Certificates II, III and IV in Land Management, the College offers specialised short courses, for example Pesticide Safety.
Awards for the Land Management Course include student Michelle Mullarkey becoming a joint winner in
the 1999 Barbara Kernot scholarship
(managed by Greening Australia, the City of
Melville and the Rotary Club of Melville).
A recent project is the revegetation of a disused gravel pit on the Darling Scarp which will involve propagating and planting thousands of trees.