Ballandean State School Bell’s Turtle Project
Term 3, which runs from July through to September, will see our project ramping up again with activities. We’ve started with the visit from Bell’s Turtle researcher, Dr Lou Streeting, visiting the school to read her book, “Where are all the Baby Turtles” to the students and being interviewed as an author by the students. This is a great example of how the school staff are incorporating local biodiversity across curriculum areas. Dr Lou was impressed with how much the student knew and could discuss about protecting the critically endangered Bell’s Turtle. In fact, the students also incorporated this into their English curriculum with persuasive texts to the Ballandean community about the need to protect the turtle.
Susan Evans, principal of the school has also designed and purchased these beautiful T shirts which feature our GBSAN logo with the school’s logo. The students can wear these as their uniform and some GBSAN members have ordered them as well.
Geraldine, Susan Evans and Dr Lou modelling our new T shirts.
Andrew Johnson is videoing the project for our end of year viewing of the film and the project at Ballandean Hall.
Kambuwal artists, Selena Griffin Brown and her niece Tanesha together with local artist, Barb Benham met with GBSAN President, Geraldine Hollingsworth and Ballandean SS Principal, Susan Evans to plan the art mural with the Bell’s Turtle front and centre! Thanks go to our funders, NED (Nurturing Evolutionary Development) and the Ballandean SS to enable this exciting part of our yearlong project. The students will work with the artists in August to complete the school mural and decorate the posts in the undercroft of the school. This will be a fantastic way for the community to learn about the Kambuwal people’s perspective of the area and the wildlife and how this is an important part of their culture and stewardship of our unique ecology.