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Students
represent Mt Gambier at 2009 Murray-Darling Basin Authority
International River Health Conference in Canberra
“Climate change is already happening. We have a simple
choice to make. To live more sustainably or face an
uncertain future,” was the message given to young
environmentalists in Canberra recently.
As world leaders continue to meet and talk about climate
change and the environment, students from Tenison Woods
College have been taking action!
Students from the College recently returned from the
nation’s capital after joining over 150 other schools from
around Australia for the only environment event held ‘by
kids and for kids.’
The eleven, Year 7 and 8 students from the school’s Youth
Environment Team represented the South East, putting the
Blue Lake City on the map joining around 2000 others at the
2009 Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) International
River Health Conference.
The International Conference kicked off with students
visiting sites around Canberra followed by a special dinner
with master of ceremonies
Rebecca Breeds
from Home and Away.
Co-star and
fellow MC for the evening
Luke
Jacobz said he was
extremely proud to be part of, and helping out in the MDBA
International River Health Conference.
“I think each and every one of us have some type of role to
play to protect the environment, be it on a large scale or
in our everyday lives to ensure we have a bright future
ahead of us with the next generation of leaders.” Mr Jacobz
said.
The following day students took part in an expert panel
session, giving them the opportunity to learn from some of
our leading minds through student directed questions.
The
exciting, thought provoking and funny panel session,
with the discussion topic ‘Climate
Change; what can young people do to make a difference’ was
led by Arron Wood and included
celebrities Claire Hooper from Good News Week, Josh
Thomas from Talking ‘Aout Your Generation, as well as
senior politicians Senator Nick Xenophon (Independent
Senator for South Australia), Christine Milne (Deputy Leader
of the Australian Greens), the Hon MP Greg Hunt (Shadow
Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Water) and
activists
Dan Adams from the Make Poverty History project and Tim
Costello of World Vision.
As part of the conference, students were required to present
a workshop to fellow conference participants and then switch
between workshops presented by students from different
schools, to learn what other kids are doing for the
environment.
Event creator, Arron Wood, who was Australian
Environmentalist of the Year for his environmental education
efforts, said the two-day conference was a celebration of
the event’s 10 year history and success and was packed with
activities and learning opportunities and lots of fun to
make it a truly memorable experience.
“What makes this event so popular and effective is that kids
teach each others in much more interesting creative ways
than the usual classroom format, with songs,
dance, poems, drama, games, interactive quizzes and crafts,”
he said.
The 40 minute workshop presented by the students from
Tenison Woods, entitled Craitbul’s Fireplace,
included a re-enactment of the Boandik legend of the giant
ancestor Craitbul and how the Mount Gambier crater lakes
were formed.
The students then spoke about the Blue Lake water cycle
(aquifer system) and the importance of water care in Mount
Gambier.
Audience members then participated in three hands-on
activities based on Mount Gambier and the local water cycle
including ‘How does an aquifer work?’, ‘Keeping our water
clean’ and ‘Discover Mount Gambier’
allowing fellow conference participants the opportunity to
experience this unique environment from afar.
Their workshop received a great deal of praise from
participants of all ages, who were impressed by the
informative and interactive way that the students spoke
about the South East water system.
During the conference, students also got their hands dirty
in environmental projects hosted by the Australian National
Botanic Gardens which included water testing, bird box
making, building water saving devices and no-dig gardens,
planting seedlings and revegetating areas.
In
the lead up to the conference students spent over 15 months
working with mentor Cathy Ashby from the South East Natural
Recourse Management Board and Tenison Woods College teacher
Kirsty Wodson to research the local environment of the South
East and associated issues before presenting a number of
workshops at various events around the region before
travelling to Canberra.
The workshop presentation was developed by the group of
young environmentalists who presented at the South
Australian Youth Environment Conference in Adelaide last
July, and were so successful as ambassadors for the region
and environment, that they were invited to seriously
consider heading to Canberra for the international
conference.
Tenison Woods College teacher, Kirsty Wodson, said it was a
real honour to be involved in the conference and represent
not only Mount Gambier, but South Australia in Canberra and
see just what students can do when they put their hearts and
minds into making a difference.
Generous financial sponsorship from SE Natural Resource
Management Board, City of Mount Gambier Council, Kimberley
Clark, Department of Environment and Heritage, Barry Maney
Group, Tabeel Trading, Top Spot Auto Dismantlers, Neale and
Nulty Transport, Bunnings Warehouse and Hyland Fox made it
possible for students to attend the conference.
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