The Hall State School in Rockhampton has scooped an environmental accolade for protecting their local environment and the Great Barrier Reef.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) will present the school with $1000, as part of the annual Reef Guardian Schools Awards.

GBRMPA Stakeholder Engagement and Stewardship Director Karen Vohland said the school earned the Action and Adventures Award for positive environmental action in the field.

“Our Reef Guardian School students are the future custodians of the Great Barrier Reef and these awards acknowledge their efforts caring for their local environment and promoting real change in their communities,” she said.

“It’s about empowering students and giving them a sense of involvement in the bigger environmental picture, encouraging them to make a positive difference.”

The Hall State School undertook a number of environmental initiatives in 2012 including students participating in the adopt-a-beach program and spreading seeds at the Fitzroy River. This was made possible through many partnerships formed and strengthened between the school and local organisations.

Hall State School Principal Brian Forbes said they were a very proud Reef Guardian School and felt honoured to have been awarded the Action and Adventure Award.

“This award will greatly assist us to continue our environmental projects. It supports us in our commitment to empowering students to be active citizens and showing stewardship of the Reef and our local catchment.

“This year we have made a continued commitment to the improvement and extension of school-based projects and secondly, at a community level. The involvement in community based projects fortifies the school's endeavours to promote responsible stewardship and protection of the natural resources in the local area and to share student's understandings to the wider community through both example and education.”

Other Annual Awards winners include Holloways Beach Environmental Education Centre, Redlynch State College, Cleveland District State High School, Kidz at the Beach (Bowen), Kalkie State School, North Rockhampton State High School, Hervey Bay State High School, Beaconsfield State School and Belgian Gardens State School.

More than 285 schools and over 113,000 students take part in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Reef Guardian Schools program across Queensland.

Each school undertakes a variety of activities aimed at improving the Reef’s health and resilience.

For more information on the GBRMPA’s Reef Guardian program, visit www.gbrmpa.gov.au/our-partners
 
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