Schools gather for Our Patch ‘science fair’ for Nature Conservation Margaret River Region program

Student scientists have made their teachers, parents and local conservationists proud with the region’s 2024 Our Patch program coming to an end.

Celebrated at the Margaret River Heart earlier this month, the Nature Conservation Margaret River Region program saw year six students from all local schools attend.

The young citizen scientists had the chance to present on their year’s major projects, with the celebration doubling as a science fair outlining key areas of focus.

Shire of Augusta-Margaret River councillors were also in attendance, with president Julia Meldrum lauding the students for their dedication and work on the part-shire-funded program.

Ms Meldrum said the Our Patch gathering was a culmination of a year’s hard work by more than 170 students doing more than 2000 hours of place-based environmental education.

She praised the students for providing “innovative solutions to protecting our catchments”.

Deputy shire president Tracey Muir said she was “blown away” by the student projects that were producing real local environmental outcomes.

“The kids are so inspiring,” she said.

“It epitomises our community of people who really care and want to make a difference and are actually doing things on the ground to care for country.”

Margaret River Independent School students teamed up with University of Western Australia researcher Dr Tim Langlois and Undalup Association’s Wadandi rangers amid serious concern at the number of native trees that died during heatwave conditions in the summer.

The student scientists explored extreme weather, analysed a century of rainfall and temperature data, tested water quality at Kevill Falls, and undertook replanting along Wooditjup Bilya.

The students also met with renowned conservationist Jane Goodall and wrote to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to call for more action on climate change.

They followed up with development of a local education campaign and raised funds for the Capes Raptor Centre.

St Thomas More Primary School students studied the rare pouched lamprey and its habitat in the Margaret River.

The students produced their own education campaign featuring a rap song, lamprey puppets, an animated book and slogans to discourage people digging out the Margaret River mouth.

Rapids Landing PS students looked at the environmental consequences of mountain biking and studied how conservation and the sport could co-exist, while also carrying out biodiversity surveys and native plantings in Brookfield’s bush.

Margaret River Montessori School year six students surveyed native fungi populations. They created a catalogue that then inspired a fungi restoration project with Nature Conservation staff and fungi expert Dr Sapphire McMullan-Fisher from the Fungi4Land project based in the Yalgardup Brook catchment.

Margaret River PS students focused on native snake-necked turtles, working with Murdoch University researcher Steve Beatty.

The students produced turtle-inspired animation and artwork as well as planted hundreds of natives along the Margaret River to boost turtle habitat.

A T-shirt designed to feature the local turtles were also on sale through the school, with proceeds going to further restoration efforts.