16 February 2009

Rasmussen State School are the proud recipients of an environmental award and a $500 grant from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

The ‘Ripples of Change Award’ recognises the dedication the school has shown to protecting the Great Barrier Reef and serves to further their environmental cause by funding a new project.

Ms Megan Sperring from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s (GBRMPA) Reef Guardian Schools Program said the grant would fund the integration of sustainability into the whole school.

“Rasmussen are aiming high by making sustainability a feature of every aspect of the school.

“Sustainability is something the Queensland Government has made a very clear priority for schools and Rasmussen are stepping up to the plate by taking on a whole-school approach.”

Ms Charmaine Weir, Rasmussen’s Reef Guardian School Program Coordinator, said sustainability was a relatively easy to implement into everyday practices.

“We can make our school more sustainable by making such easy changes.  Saving energy, reducing water usage, planting native plants and recycling waste are basic steps towards achieving sustainability.

“We’d like to build on the actions we’ve already started and make sure that everything we do at our school, and every decision we make, is done with consideration of the protection of our Great Barrier Reef and natural environment.”

Leonie Maddigan, Reef Guardian Schools Project Officer for the GBRMPA, will present the award to Rasmussen State School and personally thank the school for their efforts on behalf of the GBRMPA for their efforts in helping to conserve the Great Barrier Reef for future generations.

The award will be presented on Tuesday 17 February at 1:30pm at Rasmussen State School, Allambie Lane, Rasmussen.