Albany Secondary Education Support Centre students leave their mark on historic Camp Quaranup

A team of Albany Secondary Education Support Centre students have done their part to preserve historic Camp Quaranup by designing and building a new tiered seating area for the public.

Overlooking Princess Royal Harbour, the camp was built in 1875 and used as a Commonwealth quarantine station.

Today, it is used for recreation programs and accommodation by community groups and schools.

Through ASESC’s Community Work Crew program, a team of upper school students have been learning tool handling and teamwork over the school year ready to take on the project.

They were tasked with designing, cost measuring and planning the new seating area at the centre of the camp and giving the campsite gazebo a facelift.

Teacher Jake Butler said since breaking ground on the project in September students had worked hard to bring their ideas to life.

“The primary aim of the project was to give the group ownership of a large-scale project that will be used by camp visitors for many years to come,” he said.

“Seeing their ideas come to life has given many on the team a big confidence boost in their own abilities and a strong sense of pride in their work.

“The students have worked one day a week with experienced ex-carpenter and educational teaching assistant Damien Grieves measuring and cutting down jarrah sleepers, digging holes, setting posts in cement, all before back filling the tiered retaining wall with sand.”

Year 11 student Andy Chisholm said the project was a lot of fun.

“My favourite part of the project was learning how to mix and lay concrete for the posts,” he said.