“Protect what we love”, “The world would be fantastic with no plastic”, “Don’t trash where we splash” and “Plastic forks are just for dorks” are a few of the thoughtful messages illustrated on Eurobodalla Council’s latest environmental calendar by local students.
Celebrating its 20th year, the 2018 calendar features 15 student artworks under the theme “Land and sea matter to me”. All Eurobodalla primary schools create artwork for the calendar under a different theme each year and shortlisted entries from each school are featured on the following year’s calendar.
In a special launch on Monday, Eurobodalla Mayor Liz Innes thanked the students for being involved. She said this year’s theme was something the community felt strongly about.
“Our natural environment, and particularly our coastal environment, is something we all connect with regularly and something we all feel very passionate about preserving and protecting,” Cr Innes told the students.
“You guys are the future, it is really important that your voices are heard and that you tell us how you feel about the environment.”
Council’s Environmental Education Officer Bernadette Davis, who has been involved with the calendar since its inception, is heartened that local schools continue to contribute to the calendar each year.
“Over the years we’ve had so many different themes, from recycling and protecting our estuaries to global warming, and the entries are always exceptional, with fantastic, insightful messages,” she said.
“This year’s calendar will hang in many homes and offices throughout the shire and beyond spreading the message that what happens on land impacts on our marine environments.”
The free calendars are available at all shire libraries, in the foyer of the Council administration building in Moruya, the Batemans Bay depot, Narooma and Batemans Bay visitor centres and the Mogo Book Store.
The calendars artists are: Sari Jenkins (Broulee Public School), Jayda Tighe (Mogo Public School), Imelda Parlett (Bodalla Public School), Milly Shanahan (St Peter’s Anglican College), Riley Beby (St Bernard’s Primary School), Jade Wilson (Narooma Public School), Ella Matthew (Batemans Bay Public School), Chelsey Crawford (Batemans Bay Public School), Rex Lane (Moruya Primary School), Phoebe Coxon (Central Tilba Public School), Te’a Hartl (Sunshine Bay Public School), Jesse Coppin (Moruya Public School), Elliot Quinn (St Bernard’s Primary School), Lauren Wade (St Mary’s Primary School) and title artwork is by Serenity Woodham (Batemans Bay Public School).
