Woodworkers create possum magic

Top End possums have new places to call home thanks to school students who built the houses at an event at Charles Darwin University.

Year Nine students from Rosebery Middle School donated six handmade possum houses to Wildcare Inc and Friends of Mitchell Creek Catchment Land-care Group.

The students made the hardwood possum houses with students from other Northern Territory schools at the Worldskills Australia Try’a Skill event on Casuarina campus.

CDU’s Try’a Skill NT consortium member Trisha Mellow said some students enjoyed building the possum houses so much they attended the activity several times.

“The activity really sparked these young people’s interests in wildlife conservation and to consider a career in the building industry,” Ms Mellow said.

“They enjoyed being part of creating something that supports nature conservation.”

Students sanded down wood and used power tools to put the houses together at the carpentry activity. They attached extra wood on the sides of the houses for possums to grip on to.

Wildcare Inc Education Officer Lesley White said her volunteer group was in constant need of houses for wildlife.

“It’s going to be absolutely wonderful to receive these possum houses as they are out of stock at Wildcare, due to the constant demand,” she said.

“People feel good about getting involved in doing the right thing for the community and for helping our Top End wildlife.”

Nortruss Group Companies donated wood for the project. The NT Government, Group Training Northern Territory and the Australian Apprenticeship Centre NT are members of the Try’a Skill NT Consortium.