Young hands, lasting impact and connections that lift hearts.
This year, we were delighted to welcome back Barker College Year 9 students for our reimagined Barker at Warrah – Impact in Action program. Across six weeks, more than 140 students spent five days on campus, with an expanded program offering two hands-on activity streams. Whether beautifying our gardens or helping build a new home for our goats, the students made a visible difference to our campus while lifting spirits across the Warrah community.
Beautification: Growing Something Wonderful
Guided by our Farm Manager, Steve, students began each morning learning about biodynamic farming. From weeding and preparing garden beds to planting the next crop, their helping hands enabled our farm team to tackle projects where many hands truly do make light work.
After morning tea, students joined our Horticulturist, Phil, to rejuvenate gardens across the campus. Clearing, planting and mulching brought fresh life to our grounds, including Warrah’s beautiful entrance, which now promises to welcome each new season in full colour.
The transformation was more than skin-deep. One staff member was moved to tears on arriving at Banksia and seeing the remarkable difference the students had made. Hearing such heartfelt feedback was a wonderful reminder that their efforts had done more than improve our gardens … they had lifted spirits and brought joy to our community.
Building: Laying the Foundations for the Future
Following last year’s successful construction of the Warrah Chicken Coop, this year’s building students completed Stage 1 of another lasting campus project: the new Warrah Goat Shed.
Working alongside our building team, Richard and Shaun, students learned the skills, preparation and teamwork involved in construction. Each morning began with a toolbox talk, led by Richard and Shaun on day one, before students took turns leading the talks themselves on subsequent days. Site safety, the correct use of tools and safe storage practices were all part of the learning experience.
Then it was time to get building! Students prepared the site, mixed and poured concrete for the foundations, and learned to measure, cut and assemble the structure. By the end of the six-week program, their work had progressed from the foundations right up to the rafters — an impressive achievement and a tangible result of their teamwork.
In 2027 the Barker at Warrah – Impact in Action building students will complete the shed by raising the walls, building an internal room and prepare for raising the roof. This new home for our Warrah goats will play an important role in managing vegetation along the campus perimeter and helping reduce bushfire fuel loads. What began as a building project is becoming a lasting contribution to the safety and sustainability of our campus.
Sharing More Than a Morning Tea
Every Friday, students and their teachers gathered at the Waaia Café to enjoy morning tea with the Warrah community. The tempting menu, featuring hot chocolates, milkshakes and our much-loved award-winning scones, proved a popular drawcard!
With refreshments in hand, students settled in to share conversations with the participants and staff they had come to know throughout the week. These relaxed moments created opportunities for genuine connection, laughter and friendship.
Barker at Warrah – Impact in Action 2026 was about so much more than gardening and building. It was about learning new skills, contributing to something meaningful and discovering the joy of being part of a community. The enthusiasm with which Warrah participants and staff welcomed the students, and the care and commitment the students brought to their work, made this year’s program a memorable experience for everyone.
We are grateful to Barker College and these wonderful young people for the energy, kindness and hard work they brought to Warrah. Their impact will be seen across our campus for seasons to come … and remembered in the hearts of our community for much longer.
