13 November 2007

Hambledon State School’s commitment to sustainability will be recognised today with $1000 in funding and an award for outstanding efforts in helping to protect the Great Barrier Reef.

Ms Megan Sperring, Programme Manager for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Reef Guardian Schools, said the school was being awarded the ‘Reef Guardian Champions Award’ for its innovative approach to educating students about preserving the Reef, and mentoring other schools to do the same.

“Hambledon has come a long way since cyclone Larry which certainly impacted on the school’s environmental projects,” she said.

“Fortunately, the cyclone didn’t manage to dampen the student’s commitment to sustainability and they have more than recovered.

“Not only has the school rebuilt a bigger better programme including a native plant trail complete with demonstrations of water conservation, they have developed new ways of sharing their environmentalism with other schools and with the greater community.

“We are thrilled to recognise Hambledon for mentoring and facilitating higher learning outside their own school grounds and carrying their passion for safeguarding the Reef to the greater Cairns region.”

This year, two Cairns primary schools were invited onto the Hambledon State School campus to learn about alternative energy from the school’s well-known ‘Energy Trailer’ – a travelling display used to promote awareness of energy conservation.

The school also worked together to paint a mural in their Parade area displaying the importance of the Great Barrier Reef and what the students hope it will look like in the future.

Hambledon State School’s Reef Guardian Coordinator Ms Debbie Townsend said the whole school was involved in the programme.

“We have been on a long journey with our Reef Guardian Programme, it has unified us as a school and it is something we take a lot of pride in,” she said.

“We are absolutely ecstatic to win the Reef Guardian Champions Award.

“We are doing our bit to make a difference and we all feel like champions.”

Ms Megan Sperring from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Mr Bob Rossi from the Cairns Local Marine Advisory Committee will present the students with their award and personally thank them for the efforts in helping to conserve the Great Barrier Reef for future generations.

Eight of the 30 Reef Guardian Award winners are located in the Cairns region.