Back to Newington Day is a day in the College calendar where the school is opened up to the wider community. This year visitors were able to experience something different among the usual array of stalls, with the ever-growing Environmental Sustainability Committee throwing a new angle on the day.

With prime placement opposite the Le Couteur block, the stall was manned all day by a collection of boys from Years 10, 11 and 12. The boys engaged with the Newington community through a variety of initiatives, schemes and prizes. Multiple businesses provided give-aways and information to help the day go smoothly, and we would like  specifically thank these organisations:

• Green Ecovations
  583A King St Newtown, NSW 2042
• Alfalfa House
  113 Enmore Road Enmore, NSW 2042
• The Watershed
  218 King Street Newtown, NSW 2042
• The Bower
  Building 34, 142 Addison Road, Marrickville NSW 2204

As a result of their involvement a collection of prizes was given out on the day, such as boxes of organic fruit and a massive bag of muesli from Alfalfa, and Shampoo and conditioner from Alchemy. A special congratulations goes to Jordan Greifeneder for winning the grand prize of two Hoyts movie vouchers in the Rubbish Throwing Competition. In this initiative boys were encouraged to collect as much rubbish as possible and then attempt to shoot it into a bin from 10m away. In addition to this were a number of other initiatives such as the distribution of free shower timers, information pamphlets on recycling, and greywater awareness programs. These, along this the competitions and prizes, certainly generated a large amount of interest in the community.

The stall on the day was merely a small representation of the activities and schemes being installed at Newington by the Committee, in an attempt to make the entire campus more environmentally friendly and sustainable. Programs such as battery and plastic bag recycling, class room paper recycling, the long term instillation of solar panels on the newly renovated buildings, and group activaties in the wider community such ‘Clean up Australia Day’ and ‘Earth Hour’ are just a few of the schemes occurring around Newington currently.

If any boys are interested in joining they would be very welcome as part of the committee, regardless of year. Thanks needs to be given to the many boys who helped out on the day, running the store and diligently greeting and informing visitors. Special thanks must be given to Ms Randell with her actions in organising, running and being the major driving force for Environmental Sustainability at Newington.

Max Schultz (11/PR)

Student observations from the day:

“The stall was a fantastic success. Many people wandered up to our little stand not expecting much, but left fully enlightened about how to improve the environment that they live in”.

Cameron Young (11/PR)

“It was great to see how so many students were willing to help; I am confident that their contribution led both students and parents to believe that Newington cares about the environment. All in all, our committee showed that we are willing to take action. We have started a new age of concern for the ecological sustainability of our resources at Newington. Perhaps boys will now think twice about dropping litter in the playground and their neighborhood”

Shaun Towers (12/MO)