Kambrya College students were presented with a $1000 cheque last week after they initiated a clothes recycling business. From left: Gould Group CEO Ann-maree Colborne, students Tahnee and Fran, teacher Pip Edwards, Shereen, Chrisi, Lessarie, principal Ian McKenzie, Tashiana, Bethany, Steven, Ashley and Gould Group project manager Bernadette Shanahan.
By Rebecca Fraser
A NEW student enterprise has reaped big dividends for a Berwick school.
Year 11 business students at Kambrya College have created their own small recycling business, and have been collecting unwanted clothes from the school community.
Four students came up with the business plan, and their efforts were rewarded last week when representatives from the Gould Group visited the school and presented students with a $1000 cheque.
The organisation, formerly known as the Gould League, provides environmental education for the community and schools across Australia.
Kambrya College has become an Enterprise School with the Gould Group, which recognises schools that promote recycling, help solve a serious problem for charities and nurture student leadership, entrepreneurial and business skills as they create and operate their own small recycling business.
According to the Gould Group, over the past two years charities have been forced to shut down more than 300 charity recycling bins because of dumped hard waste and rubbish – 1500 tonnes of which is dumped as landfill – losing $1 million and 50 full-time jobs, and impacting important social services.
Hence the Gould Group started its Enterprise Schools program, where schools act as community sites for collecting donated goods.
Kambrya students have been collecting unwanted clothes, which are then passed on to various charities such as the Brotherhood of St Laurence, Australian Red Cross, Open Family Australia and the Salvation Army.
School principal Ian McKenzie said he was impressed by the student’s new initiative and he had been extremely surprised but pleased with the Gould Group’s donation.
He said the $1000 would help fund some student services and students could now nominate how they thought the money could be spent.
