Digging In for the Environment – Replanting at Blackwall Reach

June 23, 2025

If you’ve ever taken a quiet moment at Blackwall Reach, you’ll know it’s a special place. Towering gums, the occasional flutter of wings, and the scent of bushland in the breeze make it a local treasure. A group of our passionate students recently rolled up their sleeves to help preserve this unique natural environment.

Planting with Purpose

We were proud to be invited by Bruce Ivers, coordinator of the revegetation project on behalf of the Rotary Club of Melville, to take part again in the revegetation of Blackwall Reach Reserve. It was a meaningful opportunity that reflected our ongoing commitment to caring for our environment and our connection with the local community.

For the past two years, Santa Maria students have volunteered to help plant over 2,000 seedlings. This year’s goal was a more modest, but still meaningful, 480 seedlings.

Students focused on replanting areas where previous growth hadn’t taken, supporting long-term habitat resilience for local wildlife. Bruce directed planting efforts and shared valuable insights on seedling survival, adding a layer of learning to the hands-on work.

Building Habitats, Building Connections

This year’s Earth Day theme, Habitats for Wildlife, was a perfect match. Each native seedling planted creates shelter and food for birds, insects and animals in the reserve. The event was open to our Eco Sisters and any student who wanted to make a difference, showcasing our commitment to community and environmental stewardship.

We were also thrilled to welcome back Issy McCarthy (Class of 2024), who has been a great supporter of the project since her time at the College. Staff members Jo Priest, Lisa Balbi and Charmaine Samuels joined in, providing support and guidance.

Stewardship in Action

With gloves on and shovels in hand, our students made quick work of their target. But more than seedlings were planted, this was a lesson in care, collaboration and leadership. It was a powerful example of our Mercy value of Service and stewardship in action.

We are proud of everyone involved and grateful to the Rotary Club of Melville for the opportunity to grow something meaningful together.

BlackwallReach, CommunityService, EarthDay, EcoSisters, EnvironmentalStewardship, Featured, MercyValuesinAction, RotaryClubMelville, StudentLeadership, TreePlanting

Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.