Glen-Ray Currie, Ethyn Trott, Taine Paulson, Dylan Lowry and Kamodie Walker, aged between 18 and 23, all said they learnt a lot while working with the Green Army.

The team recently finished a walking track near Pebbly Beach and have also performed bush regeneration and lantana removal at other sites in the Great Lakes area.

Taine said he got involved with the Green Army because family and friends recommended it.

“I was tired of sitting at home and not doing anything,” he said.

“I also like the hands-on aspect of the work. There’s no theory, you just get straight into it.”

He said he noticed a lot of mothers now used the track because their prams’ wheels do not get caught on rocks.

Ethyn recently finished school and said the nature of the work also appealed to him.

Like most of his Green Army colleagues, Ethyn wants to pursue landscaping or similar work in the future.

The Federal government’s website says participants usually work 30 hours a week and receive a Green Army allowance ranging between $608.40 per fortnight to $987 per fortnight, depending on a participant’s age and educational level. 

Member for Paterson Bob Baldwin said the Department of Environment funded Green Army project is operating across Australia.

“We can see first-hand the benefits and improvements made to our local environment through activities undertaken by the Green Army,” Mr Baldwin said.

“These participants will not only be generating real environment and conservation benefits for our community, but they will be gaining valuable practical training and experience to help them prepare for the workforce or further training and improve their career opportunities.”

While the Federal Government provides funding for labour, Great Lakes Council provides and management time.

Council is looking to run the program again next year.

Kamodie said he found that younger people were very interested in joining the Green Army.

“I’ve already recommended other people to do it. A lot of people have expressed their interest.”

The team celebrated their graduation from the program on Thursday  October 1 .