Monday 14 November 2005

Students from schools throughout the Wide Bay district will gather at the Maryborough Town Hall today (November 14) to participate in a Future Leaders Congress discussing the theme ‘Sustainable Oceans’.

The Future Leaders Congress has been run by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) in collaboration with regional schools for the past four years, celebrating a different theme each year.

This year students from Wondai State School, Pialba State School, Yandaran State School, Hervey Bay State High School and St Mary’s College will participate in the congress.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s National Education Programme Manager, Angela Colliver, said she was amazed at the ideas the students have presented in the past and the care they show for the Great Barrier Reef and its sustainability.

“The future leaders congress gives today’s students the opportunity to have a say in their future and the way they live it. Students are encouraged to act on best environmental practices shared throughout the day and spread their messages through the community,” Ms Colliver said.

St Mary’s College Reef Guardian Coordinating teacher Bruce King organised the congress and believes all students who participate will take a great deal away from the day.

“The purpose of today is for students to educate their peers with presentations and plays covering certain key questions. These topics include how declining water quality can affect the Reef and the impact it has on industries that rely on the Reef, what can be done to look after our catchment areas, and how their school is helping to improve water quality,” Mr King said.

“The students will then develop their own charter of shared beliefs to address the issue of water quality and greater environmental issues and look at how they and their peers can take action to improve their environment.”

The Future Leaders Congress will be held at Maryborough Town Hall in the Federation Room on Monday, 14th November from 9:00am – 2:00pm with Sue Sergeant from the Burnett Mary Natural Resource Management Group attending.