Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre

The Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre is a public park, botanic gardens and learning centre located in Burrumbuttock, NSW Australia[1] in the Riverina region.[2][3] Established in 1995 on an old stock reserve, it is maintained by volunteers.

Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre
Entry
Location
Map

Australia
Coordinates35°50′10.7″S 146°48′43.6″E / 35.836306°S 146.812111°E / -35.836306; 146.812111
Information
Established1995
Websitehttps://www.wirraminna.org.au/

In 2005, the Discovery Centre was built in Wirraminna for use by schools and community groups. The Discovery Centre has aquaria displaying native fish from the Murray-Darling Basin and Southern Corroboree frogs.[4][5]

Over 2000 primary school children visit Wirraminna annually, from schools throughout the region.

History

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Wirraminna was originally known as public watering place 443 (20 February 1904) and declared a town water supply on 27 August 1937 controlled by Hume Shire Council.[6] Through the cooperation of local residents and the principal of Burrumbuttock School, Wirraminna was established in 1995. In 2005 Wirraminna received financial support from the Australian Government’s Regional Partnerships program, which with matching local support enabled the construction of a rammed earth building named the Discovery Centre. Over 2000 primary school children visit Wirraminna annually, from schools throughout the region. It also provides a popular outing for clubs and organisations in the district, and many locals and visitors to the region call in to explore the gardens and learn about our local environment. Extensive interpretative signage around the park tells the environment story.[7]

Awards

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Year Award Category Notes
1999 NSW State Landcare Awards Education Awarded in conjunction with Burrumbuttock Public School[6]
2015 NSW State Landcare Awards NSW Junior Landcare Team Award Create Catchment Kids program[8][9]
2016 National Landcare Awards Junior Landcare Team Award[10] Creative Catchment Kids program[11][12]

Creative Catchment Kids books

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The Creative Catchment Kids program produces student written and illustrated books on different environmental themes.[13]

Year Theme Link to Published Books Notes
2011 An Aussie bush tale https://www.envirostories.com.au/category/programs/aussie-bush/
2012 Biodiversity of the Murray catchment https://www.envirostories.com.au/category/programs/biodiversity-murray/
2013 Catchment champions https://www.envirostories.com.au/category/programs/catchment-champions/
2014 Local land heroes https://www.envirostories.com.au/category/programs/local-land-heroes/
2015 Local land heroes https://www.envirostories.com.au/category/programs/local-land-heroes/
2016 Our culture, our community https://www.envirostories.com.au/category/programs/our-culture/

https://www.envirostories.com.au/category/programs/our-community/

2017 Our culture, our community

Murray wetlands

https://www.envirostories.com.au/category/programs/our-culture/

https://www.envirostories.com.au/category/programs/our-community/

https://www.envirostories.com.au/category/programs/murray-wetlands/

2018 Landcare https://www.envirostories.com.au/category/programs/landcare/
2019 Landcare https://www.envirostories.com.au/category/programs/landcare/

Videos and Educational Materials

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Year Series Links to Videos Educational Materials
Dr Dave in Box-Gum Grassy Woodlands https://www.wirraminna.org.au/portfolio/dr-dave-in-box-gum-grassy-woodlands/ 8 videos and fact sheets
Dr Dave in the Murray Catchment https://www.wirraminna.org.au/portfolio/dr-dave-in-the-murray-catchment/ 4 videos and fact sheets
Dr Dave in the Outback https://www.wirraminna.org.au/portfolio/dr-dave-in-the-outback/ 13 videos and fact sheets
Corroboree Frogs https://www.wirraminna.org.au/portfolio/corroboree-frogs/ Education kit[5]
Water in the Murray Region https://www.wirraminna.org.au/portfolio/water-in-the-murray-region/ 4 videos
Cultural Heritage of Lake Victoria https://www.wirraminna.org.au/portfolio/cultural-heritage-of-lake-victoria/ 7 videos
Indigenous Culture in the Upper Murray https://www.wirraminna.org.au/portfolio/indigenous-culture-upper-murray/ 12 videos

References

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  1. ^ "Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre". NSW Landcare Gateway. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
  2. ^ "Environmental Education Centres | Sustainable Schools NSW". www.sustainableschoolsnsw.org.au. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
  3. ^ "Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre". www.visitnsw.com. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
  4. ^ "Corroboree Frogs". www.wirraminna.org.au. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
  5. ^ a b "Frogs hop into Wirramminna". Eastern Riverina Chronicle. 2013-08-21. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
  6. ^ a b Dunlop, Owen (2008). "The Wirraminna Story" (PDF). Wirraminna & Petaurus.
  7. ^ "Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre". Ecoportal. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
  8. ^ Howie, Janet (2015-09-11). "No flies on these kids at launch". Eastern Riverina Chronicle. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
  9. ^ "Creative Catchment Kids". PeeKdesigns. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
  10. ^ Landcare Australia (2016). "National Landcare Awards and Conference celebrate outstanding Landcare champions". Landcare Australia.
  11. ^ "Landcarers shine at National Awards". Landcare Australia. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
  12. ^ Chappell, Kim (2016-09-23). "NSW champions ace two wins at National Landcare Awards". The Land. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
  13. ^ "Creative Catchment Kids". www.wirraminna.org.au. Retrieved 2019-09-19.