Tuesday 11 October 2005

Students at St Margaret Mary’s College were recognised for their participation in the 2005 Reef Guardian School Programme last week (October 07) with the presentation of a school plaque by the National Education Programme Manager at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), Angela Colliver.

The Reef Guardian School Programme is an important education initiative of the GBRMPA that encourages students and teachers to make a difference to help keep the Great Barrier Reef great for the future.

St Margaret Mary’s College Reef Guardian Co-ordinating teacher, Mary O’Toole, said the college was already heavily involved in reef guardian activities and the sign presentation would be a matter of recognising the work they have already been achieving.

“We have implemented sustainability studies across the entire school, the Year 11’s are mapping energy efficiency of buildings, the Year 10 geography classes are focussing on tourism on the Reef and are putting together a fictitious proposal to become Eco-Certified and other classes are focussing on catchment care,” Ms O’Toole said.

“Teachers are also getting their students out and about by taking them on educational visits to Reef HQ and students are getting to adopt best environmental practices when they go snorkelling on the Reef as part of their studies.”

Ms Colliver said the plaque presentations provided an opportunity to thank and recognise students for their efforts to protect the Reef, while also promoting the importance of Reef protection to local communities.

“The Reef Guardian School Programme plays an important role in helping schools to manage their school grounds and resources to ensure their activities have the least amount of impact on the Great Barrier Reef,” Ms Colliver said.

“The Programme is well-recognised and all schools involved are acknowledged as national leaders in sustainable living and the environmental management of the Great Barrier Reef.”

More than 180 schools throughout Queensland are participating in the 2005 Reef Guardian School Programme and each school will be presented with a plaque of recognition.