Children’s art and writing competition raises awareness of threatened species

Campbelltown City Council’s annual Threatened Species Art and Writing Competition is back.

The competition aims to raise awareness of the special plants and animals that call Macarthur home.

Students from across the region are invited to learn about local threatened species by creating artworks or short stories that highlight the vulnerability of our region’s plants and animals.

Entries open on Tuesday 24 July, and young artists aged 5 to 12 are invited to draw, paint or create a collage on A4 sized paper of a threatened species found in Macarthur. Individual entries will be judged in age categories of 5 to 6 years, 7 to 9 years and 10 to 12 years.

Budding writers aged 8 to 12 are invited to express themselves through short stories that celebrate the beauty and uniqueness of Macarthur’s threatened plants and animals.

There are prizes for individuals and schools up for grabs in both the artwork and writing sections.

An awards ceremony will take place on National Threatened Species Day on Friday 7 September at the Australian Plant Bank at the Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan.

As part of the awards ceremony, entrants will be invited to go behind-the-scenes of the facility, and be taken on a nocturnal tour of the endangered Cumberland Plain Woodland.

Some of the best artworks and creative writing pieces will also be published in the Threatened Species Art and Writing Competition Storybook.

Each school will receive a copy of the book, and entrants whose story was published will receive a copy to keep. Copies of the book will also be made available to borrow from local libraries.

Mayor of Campbelltown, Cr George Brticevic, said the competition not only gave children an opportunity to learn about the region’s threatened plants and animals, but to raise awareness about them in the wider community.“The Macarthur region has some spectacular natural habitats,” he said.

“Not only does Campbelltown City have natural boundaries created by the Georges and Nepean Rivers, we also have the spectacular Dharawal National Park.

“Unfortunately, Campbelltown is also home to more than 64 threatened species, including our lovable koalas, which is why it is so important that we raise community awareness about them.  

“This competition has attracted some outstanding creative work from young writers and artists over the years, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing what our talented children submit this year.”

Competition entries can be hand delivered to the Customer Service Desk at Campbelltown City Council’s Civic Centre, Queen Street, Campbelltown, or posted to PO Box 57, Campbelltown 2560. Camden and Wollondilly residents can send their artwork to their respective councils.

Entries close on Tuesday 28 August.