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A United Nations initiative is introducing Perth teenagers to historical, cultural, scientific and artistic perspectives of the Swan River.WA’s Regional Centre for Expertise (RCE) is part of a global Education for Sustainable Development network linking more than 100 RCEs worldwide. The Sense of Place Network (RCE WA) is based at UWA and was initiated by Winthrop Professor Tony O’Donnell , Dean of Sciences.

The theme of WA’s RCE, A Sense of Place , was adopted from the book of that name about the Swan Coastal Plain by UWA academic, the late George Seddon.

Through the Sense of Place Network (RCE WA), UWA is collaborating with the State Department of Environment and Conservation, Millennium Kids, the Swan Estuary Reserves Action Group and the Swan River Trust to promote sustainability through education.

Last month during the school holidays a group of 20 Year 9 students took part in a three-day pilot project, called the Sense of Place Explorers . Academic enrichment and leadership were targeted through practical and stimulating workshops on the many facets and values of the Swan Canning River System.

On the first day, the students learned about the river from a historical perspective. They were taken on two journeys through the river’s past, first with Dr Sue Graham-Taylor who described its history. From the top of the Fremantle Port Authority building they could see the Swan in its landscape and better understand the development of the river over the course of European settlement.

Professor Noel Nannup then immersed participants in the Dreaming of the Noongar; and, at Tjuntalup (Point Walter), they left their footprints along the tresses of Tjunta’s lost strand of hair.

They learned about habitat restoration, vegetation identification and estuary management.

At the Canning River Eco Centre, guided by Joselyn Fissioli, they examined the health of the river system by conducting an extensive vegetation survey, testing water quality, collecting and examining macro-invertebrates and sharing their findings.

Kayaking the waters and walking the shores of the river at Bayswater enabled the students to explore sanctuaries where water-birds gathered and foraged in the shallows. Then, inspired by local artist Angela Rossen, they reflected the colours of the river in sketches they made of flora and fauna.

The project culminated with an exhibition and presentation evening at the Bayliss Building. There, Peter Ciemitis said: “The program we’re celebrating today goes much further than building education in ecology. It is rare to see such effective crosscurricular programs, which extend learning to reflect principles of developing A Sense of Place .”

Peter Ciemitis, whose portrait of George Seddon hangs in the National Gallery, and Winthrop Professor Carmen Lawrence are on the advisory board supporting the initiative.

The global project hopes to get children as young as kindergarten age understanding sustainability so it will become part of their consciousness.

Published in UWA News , 12 November 2012