Karen earns pride

A LOVE of her local environment inspired a Ferntree Gully teacher to an unexpected win in the Knox Pride Environment Awards.
Ferntree Gully Primary School acting assistant principal Karen Edwards was one of 11 winners announced by outgoing chairman of the Knox Pride Committee Nick Wakeling on Monday, 14 November.
Ms Edwards, winner of the Primary Teacher Award, has been teaching in Ferntree Gully for four years and said she was very privileged to win the award.
“I’m sure there are many teachers out there doing much the same job with the environment, but I guess I was the lucky one,” she said.
Ms Edwards said it was nice to get a pat on the back for her efforts, but said she and the students enjoyed their green pursuits.
“The kids have a ball being able to get out the wheelbarrows and use rakes and spades, and they give up their lunch time to do it,” she said.
Ms Edwards mucks in as the children sweep, weed, prune, plant, barrel mulch and clear gutters.
For her prize, Ms Edwards won a framed certificate and a voucher for Australian Geographic.
She used the voucher to buy a book of Aboriginal stories, posters of native landscapes and a photographic book of Australian scenery.