At the University of Tasmania, sustainability is more than an area of study. Students are actively encouraged to put it into practice. This was on full display recently at Jane during a sustainability-themed Formal Dinner.
Residents and guests shared an entirely vegetarian meal and talked about the small changes we can all make to help reduce our environmental impact.
The dinner was a student initiative organised by Jane’s Gardening, Recycling and Sustainability Society, better known as GRaSS, and led by Student Club Vice-President Nate Keysers.
GRaSS is a group of students working to make Jane more sustainable. This year, the group has collected cans for recycling after student events, using the money raised to support other GRaSS activities. It has also encouraged residents to take shorter showers, air-dry their clothes and reduce food waste in the Dining Hall.
The dinner was one of the group’s biggest projects for the year.
Around 120 people attended, with guests from UTAS, government and the wider community. These included environmentalist and former Australian Greens leader Dr Bob Brown, Deputy Leader of the Tasmanian Greens Vica Bayley MP and UTAS Senior Lecturer in wildlife ecology Dr Rodrigo Hamede Ross.
By serving a vegetarian meal to everyone for one night, GRaSS showed the difference one small change could make.
In his speech on the night, Nate said eating less meat did not have to mean giving it up altogether.
“Although for many people cutting out meat entirely is not doable or ideal, eating just one less meal can make a significant difference,” he said.
Jane’s kitchen team prepared the vegetarian menu, with Nate thanking them for doing “a sensational job as always”.
Jane College Principal Joanna Rosewell said she was proud of the students for taking the initiative and organising such a thoughtful event.
“It was a really positive evening, with people celebrating the environment and thinking about where our sustainability efforts could take us in the future,” Joanna said.
GRaSS has more activities planned for the year, including its annual op shop swap and a beeswax wrap-making session.
As Nate reminded residents at the dinner: “Your tiny actions at Jane do truly make a difference.”