DROMANA Secondary College students have turned creativity into conservation through a Wild At Art competition, run by the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) Community Group Mornington.
Traditionally aimed at primary students, the secondary-level version of the nationwide contest invited entries for the ACF 2026 calendar while encouraging awareness of local biodiversity and threatened species.
The Mornington Peninsula is one of Victoria’s most ecologically diverse regions, home to more than 60 ecological vegetation classes and nearly 700 indigenous plant species – about one-fifth of the state’s total.
Students have been learning how native planting supports local wildlife and protects delicate ecosystems.
With 81 threatened plants, 59 threatened birds, 11 threatened mammals, and other vulnerable species in the region, the competition highlighted the urgency of addressing weed invasion, feral animals, and habitat loss.
Flinders MP Zoe McKenzie joined ACF Mornington representatives in judging the finalists on 31 October. ACF Mornington said it was proud to fund the event, inspiring young conservationists to care for the peninsula’s natural heritage.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 5 November 2025
