Dimboola Memorial Secondary College students are engaging in school and community-wide projects through their Hands-On Learning program.

Led by education support officer and co-ordinator Donna Baldock, this year a group of eight students have so far participated in a range of activities, including restoring bench seats.

“We got the frames from the tip, and the students had to strip them back,” Mrs Baldock said.

“They were given the lengths of wood, and they were told to ‘work it out yourselves’ – the process is there for them to use their initiative.”

The students have also produced briquettes, which they sell.

“They were just something that I came up with to recycle the paper that we use at the school, so that it doesn’t all go into landfill,” Mrs Baldock said.

“The proceeds of the briquettes go back into the Hands-On Learning programs – we sell them $5 for 10.”

This week participants are working with Dimboola Town Committee to put plaques on seats in the town.

Mrs Baldock said the program had given students another avenue of learning since 2007.

She said some of the program’s previous students had gone on to work in trades.

“It gives the children a sense of belonging, a group to be part of,” she said. 

“And we just learn in a different way.”

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