Category: Learning in Our Community

THE Build Up Tassie construction work readiness program recently celebrated the transition of six program participants into apprenticeships with St Joseph Affordable homes. 

The new apprentices – a plumber, painter, bricklayer and three carpenters are a welcome addition to an industry struggling with skill shortages and increasing demand for services, in particular the need for greater supply of social and affordable housing.

The apprenticeships were awarded after a 17-week commitment from participants, building confidence and industry awareness to the point where they become ready to choose the trade in which they’d like to work. 

Based at the Southern Central Trade Training Centre, the Build Up Tassie program provides a chance for young people (16 – 24 years) to try different trade activities and gain an understanding of how the construction industry operates. 

BRIGHTON Council is planning to introduce a FOGO (Food Organic Garden Organics) service in 2021 but it will be seeking ratepayers’ thoughts before proceeding.

A potential FOGO service will mean third bin that is only for food scraps and garden waste and most likely collected on a fortnightly basis.

This month Council will be conducting community consultation in the ‘Have Your Say’ section on the Council’s website. Residents who can’t access the survey online can request a survey by phone or in person at the Council offices.  

By MARK VEITCH* 

TASMANIA did its first test for Coronavirus on 31 January this year. Since then we have performed more than 115,000 tests.

Testing people who have symptoms that could be due to Coronavirus infection is a crucial part of our response to the pandemic. Many symptoms of early and mild Coronavirus are the same as those of colds and flu and could even be confused with hay fever. Testing people with symptoms helps us to work out if someone has Coronavirus, and if they do, to quickly isolate them, and trace and quarantine their contacts who may also be infected. This reduces the spread of Coronavirus in the community.

For many months people across Tasmania have done a great job of taking symptoms seriously and getting tested. This testing has given us confidence that Coronavirus has not been circulating in our communities.

BRIGHTON Municipality households, schools, community groups and local businesses are set to join more than 400,000 people across the country on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November as part of the tenth annual Garage Sale Trail, which will also be taking place online for the first time. 

Garage Sale Trail is part of Brighton Council’s commitment to reducing landfill and supporting residents to reuse and reduce waste at home. The program is supported by more than 115 councils across Australia. And for the first time ever sellers can also set up virtual garage sales as an alternative to garage sales in local neighbourhoods. 

Mayor Tony Foster said the Garage Sale Trail was a great opportunity for people to connect with their community, have lots of fun and make some extra money at a time where many people need it most. 

BRIDGEWATER Library had a visit from two volunteers from the Young Tassie Scientists (YTS) program as part of National Science Week 2020 last month. 

YTS which promotes the profile of science and engineering to students and the public provides insights into working as a scientist or an engineer. Participants in the YTS program volunteer their time to share a passion for science and a sense of wonder with people across the state.

Svenja Halfter and Dipon Sarkar shared a never-ending sense of joy and wonder about science with Library staff. 

The experiments they performed focused on the deep blue ocean and highlighted how science plays a part in climate change and the environment.  

Svenja and Dipon entered the makeshift laboratory at Bridgewater Library and eagerly reached into their Cool Science at Home packs to begin experimenting. The flurry of activity and laughter was caught on camera and is available on the Bridgewater Library Facebook page. 

BRIGHTON Family Day Care recently organised a tree planting event to celebrate national tree planting day.

Educators, children and Family Day Care staff came together with Brighton Council at Bridgewater Parkland to plant a eucalyptus maculata which was donated by Council.

National Tree Day was co-founded in 1996 by Planet Ark and Olivia Newton-John. It is an opportunity for everyone in Australia to get their hands dirty and give back to the environment and there were plenty of enthusiastic little helpers on hand at Bridgewater Parkland to get their hands dirty.

For Brighton Family Day Care the celebration of National Tree Day symbolised their strong links to the community and highlighted the importance of collaborative partnerships with many stakeholders within our community.

Deputy Mayor Barbara Curran attended the event as the official representative of Council.

Cr Curran has a strong connection to Brighton Family Day Care as a former educator over many years and understands the importance of activities such as this for children’s play as well as children learning about the importance of trees and nature from an early age.

NYRSTAR Hobart recently donated lab equipment to the Jordan River Learning Federation (JRLF) Senior School to help students engage with science subjects and to ensure excess equipment is put to valuable re-use in a school environment.

Rather than just deliver the equipment, Nyrstar employees visited the school to observe and assist students conduct a lab experiment as a fun classroom activity. The students participated in a small competition based on a titration experiment dubbed the ‘Titration Off’ on the day.