Ballina Waters visited the Ballina High School Marine Discovery and Resource Centre
05 Nov 2015
In August The Probus Club of Ballina Waters visited the Ballina High School Marine Discovery and Resource Centre which is a public education facility run by the Ballina High School and has expanded beyond all expectations since our club visited many years back. This Centre is a credit to the dedicated teachers and staff at the school, offering so much to Schools and groups well outside the immediate area.
It is assisted by the NSW Dept of Education, National Parks & Wildlife, District Waterways/Maritime Services board, Australian Volunteer Coastguard, Ballina Fisherman’s Co-operative, Ballina Shire Council and other local Community Groups and is also a registered annex of the Australian Museum and has the permit to collect and house dead marine mammals.
Hence a vast display of mammal and reptile skeletons such as dolphins, whales, dugongs and turtles are part of the expansive display as well as the live aquaculture and aquaria tanks.
The students have ready access to important and stimulating ecosystems within walking distance from the school but also have the use of 22 tonne, six wheel drive ex army ACCO truck capable of seating 25 students with teachers and has a second 12 tonne ACCO truck as a support vehicle which cancarry camping gear, dune regeneration material and other material used by students during fieldwork.
The displays throughout were inspiring and a reminder of how we have such a wonderful community plus such a widely diverse ecosystem at our door. A most impressive morning.
After lunch at our local Thursday Plantation we continued to the Seabird Rescue which was a sad reminder of what can happen to the wildlife through neglect and carelessness as well as the plastic waste floating in our oceans, but also rewarding to have such a worthwhile establishment in our midst. They too have spread their knowledge and assistance far afield.
A very rewarding day out to appreciate what we have at our door.
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