By Ann Marie Angebrandt
ON the rural perimeter of Wyndham, students at the Werribee Islamic College are growing more than just trees and vegetables.
College Principal Omar Hallak said its second campus had been established to grow bridges of harmony and unity between students, religions, cultures and regions.
Last week, the 1100-student Islamic school invited 70 students from 10 primary and secondary students in the West to plant olive trees and native shrubs at its 53-hectare horticultural campus on Derrimut Rd.
“This was a symbolic day to show we encourage open dialogue between students regardless of race or religion,” he said.
The rural campus, which contains several hothouses with neatly sprouting rows of beans, tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers, was set up a few years ago to teach students about horticulture.
Soon, it will be opened to other schools for their own scientific and horticultural projects, said Mr Hallak.
“This is a wonderful facility and we want everyone to use it,” he said.
Mr Hallak said he was looking forward to the native bird life that would soon be attracted to the campus by its maturing trees.
