Volunteering is not just something that happens to people in their adult life - Students from Stawell Secondary College do this as part of their education.
The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) program requires students to participate in community-based projects, voluntary work and activities that will help develop self-confidence, teamwork skills and other skills important for life and work.
Thirty two Year 11 and 12 students planted 3000 wetland plants over two days at the Maud Street wetlands. The wetlands have been created by the Storm Water and Natural Solutions project run by the Northern Grampians Shire in conjunction with the community.
The students worked with community volunteers, the visiting Nauruan footballers and Northern Grampians Shire staff planting into the muddy edges of the wetlands and on the banks that form the backdrop to the hospital.
To protect the establishing plants from ducks temporary netting was erected.
Student Andrew Leithhead said it was good to be doing something that wasn't just for himself.
``It will be interesting to see what the wetland will look like when the plants grow,'' he said.
Other volunteer projects students have been involved with are building an 80 metre long boardwalk bridge, constructing a `burnout pad' at the Speedway and `Adopt a Highway'. Students will also participate in the Project Platypus Plantout this month.