Friday January 23 2004

It’s a very special first birthday for one of the world’s top web sites in Townsville.

Thanks to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Reef ED web site everyone with access to the internet can enjoy the Great Barrier Reef ‘up close’ with just a touch of a mouse button.

GBRMPA will celebrate the first birthday of the fun and educational web site on the January 30. The site was rated 67th in the world on the ‘Google’ search engine with more than 140,000 visits to the site. On average it is visited more than 500 times daily.

According to National Education Programs Manager, Angela Colliver, the web site is a high quality educational resource that anyone can use.

“Because it’s in Townsville the web site is regularly updated, so there’s no waiting on information”, Ms Colliver said.

The Minister for Environment and Heritage Dr David Kemp opened the web site in Townsville on January 30 last year.

The web site offers online resources for both teachers and students with an encyclopaedia and more than 1500 colour images and videos.

“It’s an amazing way to learn about and see the Great Barrier Reef up close”, Ms Colliver said.

Reef ED can be found at: www.reefED.edu.au