‘Ban the bombs’

By Paul Dunlop
WATERWISE students at Pakenham Secondary College are calling on unruly classmates to ban the bombs.
A recent outbreak of hot weather saw so many water bombs being thrown that teachers sent a letter home to parents saying it had become a “significant problem”.
PSC acting assistant principal Craig McGeehan said some students might see throwing water bombs as innocent fun but warned it was disruptive and potentially dangerous.
And students in the school’s environment club have backed the school’s stance, saying throwing water bombs also wasted a precious – and fast dwindling – resource.
College environment sustainability coordinator Allison Jenner said a group of young people, from years seven to 12, were showing terrific leadership in helping to set an environmentallyfriendly agenda at the school.
“They are actively thinking about ways to save water and promoting that message to their peers,” she said.
“Saving water is a big priority and water bombs are taken very seriously. Apart from being potentially dangerous it is a waste of water and creates rubbish.
“The kids get grumpy when they see valuable resources wasted like that.”
Ms Jenner said the college was looking at several ways to save water.
Ongoing building upgrades should deliver a number of waterwise initiatives, including rainwater tanks, waterless urinals in the toilets and recycled watering systems for gardens and school grounds.
Students were helping to promote shorter showers and setting an example around the school grounds.
“They are great young leaders, if they see a tap dripping, they’ll turn it off.
“They’re sending a really positive message around the school,” Ms Jenner said.
The environment club has also adopted the Pakenham Lilypond with the school working in partnership with Cardinia Shire to clean up the town icon which had became overgrown and littered in recent years.
Cleanups at the Lilypond have seen all manner of rubbish from shopping trolleys and bottles, an oar, even a women’s lacy corset, pulled from the water.
Ms Jenner said the students’ environmental efforts would continue. And that includes giving the thumbs down to water bombs.