9 November 2007

Thirty schools from across Queensland have been recognised for their environmental efforts throughout the year to protect the Great Barrier Reef.

Acting Chairman of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) Andrew Skeat said the schools were chosen from more than 130 Reef Guardian Schools and were being recognised for creativity and for demonstrating a strong commitment to safeguarding the Reef.

“All Reef Guardian Schools make an outstanding contribution towards protecting, preserving and understanding the Great Barrier Reef and are helping our organisation to achieve these important environmental goals," he said.

“We are very pleased to recognise the many teachers, students, schools and communities who have made this programme so successful.

“St Patrick’s College is an outstanding example of the efforts of the Reef Guardian Schools and their exemplary work using media to educate the community on best environmental practices has been recognised with a Community Connection Award.”

Reef Guardian Schools Programme Manager Megan Sperring said the school’s approach to communication was unique.

“The St Patrick’s College Reef Guardians produced a series of community announcements on ABC radio where they performed songs to encourage water conservation and litter prevention," she said.

“The students also shared their message through an appearance on a Nickelodeon special on climate change as well as several local media campaigns focused on Ocean Day, a school recycling day and school efforts to clean up Pallarenda and Rowes Bay."

St Patrick’s Reef Guardian Schools coordinator Marie Roman said the programme was an inspiring way of engaging students with their community as well as with local environmental issues.

“Our programme has a strong focus on Indigenous issues and students have participated in a number of great initiatives including an environmental video conference with Native American students from the United States where they discussed the meaning of sea country,” she said.

“The Reef Guardian Schools programme has empowered our students to become active citizens who encourage others to adopt appropriate behaviours that benefit the environment.”

“We continue to be thrilled with the students’ sense of ownership for the Great Barrier Reef and the schools’ focus on partnering with the community to achieve these outstanding results,” Ms Sperring said.

The Reef Guardian Schools Awards are designed to acknowledge schools that have made a significant contribution and have improved in a variety of categories.

This year 10 schools have been recognised with Reef Guardian School Awards for their outstanding commitment to Reef Guardianship and will be awarded $1000 from the GBRMPA to help further the schools’ environmental efforts.

A further 20 schools will be given a financial boost through Ripples of Change funding grants worth $500.

Reef Guardian Schools Awards recipients:

Reef Guardian Champions Award - for mentoring or facilitating higher learning
Hambledon State School (GBRMP Far Northern Region)

Sea 'Stars' Award - for youth directed and owned activities
Wondai State School (GBRMP Southern Region)

Waste Watchers Award - for reducing, reusing and recycling
Taranganba State School (GBRMP Southern Region)

Water Warriors Award - for water conservation or water quality improvement
Woree State School (GBRMP Far Northern Region)

Learning Legends Award - for outstanding education in the classroom arena
Cannonvale State School (GBRMP Central Region)

Action and Adventures Award - for action in the field
Townsville Central State School (GBRMP Northern Region)

Community Connection Award - for reaching out to your local community
St Patrick’s College (GBRMP Northern Region)

Habitat Heroes Award - for outstanding improvement in your local environment
Aloomba State School (GBRMP Far Northern Region)

'r-Amp It Down' Award - for reducing your ecological footprint through energy conservation
Kalkie State School (GBRMP Southern Region)

Bright Sparks Award - for creativeness, inventiveness and innovations
St Francis Tannum Sands (GBRMP Southern Region)

"Ripples of Change" support funding recipients:

• Innisfail State High School (GBRMPA Far Northern Region)
• Cairns State High School (GBRMPA Far Northern Region)
• Emerald State High School (GBRMPA Southern Region)
• Heatley Secondary College (GBRMPA Northern Region)
• Wonga Beach State School (GBRMPA Far Northern Region)
• Wartburg State School (GBRMPA Southern Region)
• Kelso State School (GBRMPA Northern Region)
• Clare State School (GBRMPA Northern Region)
• Seaforth State School (GBRMPA Central Region)
• Edge Hill State School (GBRMPA Far Northern Region)
• East Palmerston State School (GBRMPA Far Northern Region)
• Tin Can Bay State School (GBRMPA Southern Region)
• St Colman’s School (GBRMPA Northern Region)
• Beaconsfield State School (GBRMPA Central Region)
• Gympie State High School (GBRMPA Southern Region)
• Whitsundays PCYC (GBRMPA Central Region)
• The Hall State School (GBRMPA Southern Region)
• Willows State School (GBRMPA Northern Region)
• Burdekin Christian College (GBRMPA Northern Region)
• St Francis Xavier’s School (GBRMPA Far Northern Region)