Young guns put their minds to innovative EcoSmart ideas

Awards Ceremony

Byron Filmer

Junior Reporter

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The finalists of the EcoSmart Kids competition. Picture: Byron Filmer

Our regional winners have been announced in a national primary school competition to find creative designs relating to climate change and other ideas on how to help the environment.

The EcoSmart Kids design competition, hosted by Solar Energy innovators GoodWe, finished up with 11 finalists from Douglas Shire primary schools, who were invited to the Forever Reef Project Coral Biobank in Port Douglas for a tour and a short presentation.

Each student received a prize bag and a champion was announced from each age group.

The competition followed the EcoSmart Kids Workshop in April, which taught students about the effects of climate change as well and the benefits of solar panels. 

At the end of the workshop, students came up with their designs, with the winners split across two grade categories: Years 1–2 and Years 3–5.

The Grade 1-2 Champion was Mahli Goetze from Miallo State School and the Grade 3-5 Champion was Lily Drew from Port Douglas State School.

“We couldn’t be prouder of the incredible talent and dedication shown by all the participants in this year’s EcoSmart Kids program,” GoodWe marketing manager John Wright said.

“The creativity and awareness these children displayed are a testament to the importance of environmental education.”

Mr Wright said the company’s collaboration with the Forever Reef Project’s Great Barrier Reef Legacy was important. 

“It also allows us to bring a new dimension to the program and provide a real-world example that brings together all the elements delivered in our educational workshops.”

Submissions from the students saw a range of video presentations, drawings and prototypes.

The main purpose of the competition was to inspire the next generations through GoodWe’s values of environmental responsibility, community empowerment, and forward-thinking education.

The awards were presented by different people, including GBRL director Dr Dean Miller and Mr Wright.

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