Local Sustainability Hero puts the lens on a better world
Mulgrave resident and Brentwood Secondary College student Daniel won the inaugural Sustainability Victoria 'Sustainability Through Your Own Lens' photo competition at the 2023 ResourceSmart Schools Awards in June.
Through imagery and a written reflection, entrants described the diverse and integrated nature of sustainability and what it means to look after our only home - Earth.
Daniel, whose photograph 'Eye to Eye' featured a cockatoo feeding in his backyard – and staring down the lens of his camera - said it was important that we looked after the environment by engaging in sustainable practices.
“Sustainability is a way of life,” he said. “We look after the environment and the animals through the practices of developing renewable energies. We keep green and healthy spaces available around our buildings for nature to flourish.
“A cockatoo feeling at home to feast in our back garden shows the harmony that can be obtained when we live sustainably.”
The competition was judged by Sustainability Victoria and CLIMARTE - Arts for a Safe Climate.
Brentwood’s Green Team
Glen Waverley’s Brentwood Secondary College is a Year 7-12 co-educational, single-campus school. Since opening in 1969, it has grown to an enrolment of 1625 students.
When it comes to sustainability, the school has a track record that is second to none.
Over the past few years, inspired by a dedicated group of students, staff and volunteers – the Brentwood Green Team - the school has focussed on improving infrastructure and reducing its production of waste as well as its usage of electricity and water. It was rated a five-star ResourceSmart School (RSS) in 2021, an honour that is bestowed only on a very select group of high achievers.
The Green Team has saved Brentwood more than $864,000 over the past 10 years by improving resource usage and sustainability practices at the school.
At the Premier’s Sustainability Awards in 2021, Brentwood won the Climate Action Category while, at the ResourceSmart Schools Awards in 2022, it was shortlisted as a finalist in three categories and won them all: Student Action Team of the Year, Community Leadership School of the Year and ResourceSmart School of the Year.
At the City of Monash 2022 Sir John Monash Awards, the Green Team received the Outstanding Leadership award to go with a win in the Sustainability Leadership category.
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