FEDERAL Member for Leichardt Warren Entsch MP has congratulated Woree State School students who were yesterday awarded a $500 Ripples of Change grant for protecting their local environment and the health of the Great Barrier Reef.
Mr Entsch said the awards encourage students to learn about and care for their local environments and promote real change in their communities.
“Cairns has a strong connection to the neighbouring Great Barrier Reef and the local students have an important role to play in its care for future generations,” Mr Entsch said.
“I’m proud to support the work of our Reef Guardian schools as it empowers our students to make a positive difference and gives them an opportunity to be involved in the local community.”
Woree State School science coordinator Debbie Townsend said they were excited to receive the Ripples of Change grant.
“We will use our Ripples of Change grant to implement our bugs and butterfly garden project to improve biodiversity on the school grounds,” Ms Townsend said.
“We’re going to plant native plants for their flowering and sustainable properties and our students will be able to study the type of birds and insects living in the garden.”
Grant winners include Emerald State High School, Rosedale State School, Glenmore State High School, Farnborough State School, Proserpine State School, Townsville State High School, St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School, Sunshine Beach State High School, Woree State School and East Ayr State School.
More than 310 schools and over 127,000 students take part in Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Reef Guardian Schools program across Queensland. Each school undertakes a variety of activities aimed at improving the Reef’s health and resilience.
