Viewpoint

The assembly featured a wonderful address by our guest speaker, Hon. Matt Kean (OR1999). Mr Kean has had a wonderful career and has spent 13 years in the NSW Parliament as the Member for Hornsby, serving in key leadership roles, including NSW Treasurer, Minister for Energy and Environment and Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation. Mr Kean was a driving force behind policies that balanced economic growth with sustainability. In 2020, he introduced the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, a 20-year plan designed to boost private investment in renewable energy, cut emissions, and lower power bills for NSW households and businesses. In August 2024, Mr Kean was appointed Chair of the Climate Change Authority for a five-year term.

Mr Kean spoke to our students about the importance of environmental stewardship, personal responsibility, and leadership in shaping a better future, urging students to take ownership of their choices and actions. Mr Kean spent time reflecting on his own journey in politics and climate change advocacy, highlighting the value of persistence, public service, and the ongoing fight for progress despite opposition. Ultimately, Mr Kean conveyed a strong message of empowerment—encouraging the next generation to step up, lead with passion, and continue the work of building a more sustainable and just world.

Caring for Our Common Home Initiatives

The assembly was also an opportunity for our Green Wolves to showcase the wonderful Caring for Our Common Home (CFOCH) initiatives that we have launched at Riverview. Alexander Camilleri spoke about the Riverview Sustainability Guidelines which align with Horizon 2 of the CFOCH Strategic Plan. The copy of the Guidelines can be accessed under the College Policy list on Inside View. A summary of the Guidelines can be seen below:

In addition, we proudly launched the new bin signage that is going to be rolled out across the school over the coming weeks. The new signage, which was observed in mentors this week, is part of an education piece that serves to inform our community on what can and cannot go in each bin.

The red bin is for general waste, which includes soft plastics like sandwich bags or wrappers, border trays, and any other general waste, as you can see on the graphics.

The white bins are for Return & Give items. As you can see, these items need to be empty, with a lid on, uncrunched and have a clear barcode for scanning, in order to be eligible. Food, fruit, liquids and coffee cups are not permitted in this bin.

Finally, the yellow bin is for empty, hard plastic bottles or food containers. Throwing fruit, food or liquids in this bin will only contaminate it and add to landfill which is our largest waste component.

Finally, Sam Hutchinson proudly announced the launch of Riverviews’ Carbon Offsetting Program. Through the observation of data, we noticed that our overseas flights contribute a significant amount of carbon emissions. In 2024 our total carbon emissions from air travel accounted to 1299  t CO2 -e. To combat this rise in emissions, our College has made a commitment to reduce this impact through the carbon offsetting of our flights. As of this year, Riverview has joined up with the Tasman Environmental Market, who offset land in West Wyalong (near Griffith). By planting trees that naturally capture and store the amount of carbon we emit, we have the opportunity to significantly reduce our impact. Whilst we may not feel the improved air quality here at school, some of our boarding families will witness how these offsets are making a difference locally for them.This process was applied to our overseas immersion flights in December of 2024 and already reduced our emissions by 7.3%.

We are hopeful that through these key initiatives we can continue to work together as a community towards a more sustainable environment.

Glocal

During the assembly, we also heard from Daniel Osborne about his experience in India on the Cricket Tour in December. He was taken aback by the air pollution he saw and the thick smog experienced daily for the local people. He commented on the difficult balance faced in India between economic growth and the severe environmental impact of industrialisation, as reliance on coal continues to fuel pollution and climate change. With rising temperatures, melting glaciers, and extreme weather threatening millions, Daniel spoke to our students about the crisis which highlights that clean air is not a given but a privilege we must work to protect.

We also heard from Walter Yullie about his local experience with bushfires in Scone, NSW. Walter commented on the increased frequency and intensity of bushfires in Australia as a result of climate change. Through his speech, he presented a sense of hope by reminding us that nature has shown it can recover when given the chance; however by embracing renewable energy, innovation, and collective action, we have the opportunity to ensure a thriving future for generations to come.

Finally, we heard from our College Captain, Angus Martinez. Angus reflected on his immersion to Cambodia, an experience which deeply impacted his perspective on the world. His experience highlighted the harsh effects of environmental degradation, as he witnessed families living in flood-prone areas and children struggling to learn in makeshift classrooms amid pollution. Through his speech, Angus commented on how his experience made him realise how privileged we are at Riverview, with stable housing, clean water, and an education free from such challenges, but this privilege comes with the responsibility to act. He presented a challenge to us all to actively reduce waste, rethink our habits, and use our platforms to advocate for sustainability, making a measurable impact by the end of this term.

The Green Wolves were presented with a badge by the Chair of the Caring for Our Common Home Committee for their ongoing commitment to the College in driving a hope-filled environmental future.

Year 9 English - ‘Verse of the Earth’

In the Yr 9 English unit ‘Verse of the Earth’ students have been learning about humans' inextricable connection with nature and the importance of showing stewardship towards the environment. In pairs, they were asked to craft a short poem and digital poster promoting the importance of ‘Caring for Our Common Home.’ The two best poems and slides from each class were showcased on screen as we entered the assembly. The winners:

1) Nick Klok & Liam Barnes - Winners

2) Riley Nolan, Benny Dickinson & Josh Parent - Highly Recommended

3) Dax & Mitch - Highly Recommended

A special thank you to all the Year 9 English Teachers for their guidance and support with this task.

World Water Day

World Water Day , is celebrated on the 22nd March and is a global celebration dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of freshwater and advocating for sustainable water management. Established by the United Nations, this day highlights the urgent need to ensure clean water access for all, tackle water scarcity, and protect our planet’s vital water resources. Each year, World Water Day focuses on a specific theme, inspiring action to address global water challenges. Join the movement—conserve, protect, and advocate for water, because every drop counts!

To raise awareness and funds, the Green Wolves hosted a doughnut stall, with all proceeds being donated to the ‘Light of Mercy’ Water Project in Cambodia. This is an incredible opportunity for The Green Wolves to raise funds that support the UAP - Walking With The Excluded.

Earth Hour Day

Earth Hour Day is acknowledged on Sunday 23rd March and is a global movement that encourages individuals and communities to turn off non-essential lights for one hour to raise awareness about climate change and sustainability. It serves as a powerful reminder of our responsibility to protect our planet and not use non-renewable energy sources when not needed.

We would like to commend our students for their dedication to Earth Hour every Friday during P4.