21 October 2024
Five thousand primary school children from throughout the region have created story books for a Goulburn Valley Water competition to celebrate National Water Week 2024.
Forty schools were involved in the A Watery Adventure competition where they were assessed on their imagination in both written and illustrated form – celebrating a week filled with tours, activities for children and presentations by special guests between 21-27 October.
Students were provided with a blank 12 page quarter-fold booklet to create a story about a water drop, known affectionately as Drippy, travelling through the natural or urban water cycle.
This year’s winners were: Prep to Grade two, Hannah Potter with her story titled The Thirsty Cat (Grade one St Anne’s College, Kialla); Grade three-four, Audrey Gacus who wrote and illustrated Rainy’s Show (Grade 3/4 St Mel’s Primary School, Shepparton); and Grade 5/6, Indiana Brennan with her creation Adventure of a Water Drop(Grade 6 Katunga Primary School); Inclusive section, Damian Peterson with The Sailor’s Treasure (Verney Road School, Shepparton).
Goulburn Valley Water Managing Director Dr Steve Capewell said the subject matter covered in the books reflected just how valuable the GVW’s Education Program was in schools.
“Some of the detail in the books shows the education activities our staff are doing in the schools is really working. There is a deep understanding of our water and sewer services, along with the health benefits of drinking water, of which all involved in delivering the program should be proud.
“The detail in the content and imagination of the illustrations is something that not only surprised me, but indicated just how invested the next generation is in all things related to the climate, health and the environment,” he said.
The winning stories will not only be printed and placed in regional libraries, but they will also be provided to the GVW Water Only kindergartens as learning material.
There are almost 70 pre-schools registered with the GVW Water Only program, where children and teachers make a commitment to have water as their first choice of hydration during operating hours.
The four overall winners will also receive a gift voucher and will be given the chance to read their book at a local kindergarten during the Water Week celebrations.
To view the winning entries and find about more about what is happening during Water Week in the Goulburn Valley visit National Water Week | Goulburn Valley Water (gvwater.vic.gov.au)