Students from Hermit Park and Bowen State Schools are coming together in Townsville today (13 November 2009) to showcase their Reef Guardian Schools activities and celebrate National Recycling Week.

Hermit Park's Grade 7 students will host a visit from Bowen State School students, both active schools in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's (GBRMPA) Reef Guardian Schools program run in partnership with NQ Dry Tropics.

GBRMPA Reef Guardian Schools Education Officer Leonie Maddigan said an important part of the program is schools sharing their knowledge and lessons learnt about how easy it can be to protect the Great Barrier Reef.

"Schools that have been very active in their Reef Guardian programs, such as Hermit Park, are in a fantastic position to showcase their initiatives with other schools. Schools can share ideas and encourage each other on their Reef Guardian journey," she said.

Hermit Park State School Acting Principal Lyne Megarrity said the students are very proud of their Reef Guardian status and work hard to ensure their activities are as sustainable as possible.

"Our students will showcase the many activities Hermit Park State School undertakes to protect the Reef, so that the Bowen students can take some ideas away to put into place in their own school," she said.

"It's particularly fitting during National Recycling Week for students to discuss activities such as worm farming, composting, paper mulching and water recycling, activities that are all in place at Hermit Park State School."

Bowen State School teacher Ian Hayworth said the visit is the perfect opportunity for the students to come together and talk about what has worked and the lessons they have learned.

"The Bowen students are very much looking forward to seeing the on-ground activities in place at Hermit Park and the opportunity to chat to fellow students about Reef Guardian activities and how we can all protect the Great Barrier Reef," he said.

"The students are also aware that the Great Barrier Reef is under pressure and the contributions that they make as participants in the Reef Guardian program are all about ensuring the Reef's future."

The Reef Guardian Schools program is an initiative of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and is run in partnership with NQ Dry Tropics. Reef Guardian Schools help to protect the Reef by promoting their ideas, initiatives and activities to communities to encourage all people to 'do their bit to look after it!"

Ends …