Kids use voice for a better choice

Local school students have used their voices to help residents make better choices in the latest Eurobodalla Environmental Calendar.

Celebrating its 21st year, the 2019 calendar features 15 student artworks under the theme ‘Use your voice for a better choice’, in which local students look to inspire community behaviour change with regards to using single-use plastic items like plastic straws and coffee cups.

The calendar includes colourful artwork and thoughtful messages, such as ‘say nup to coffee cups’, ‘make a sound and say it loud, pick up plastic that you’ve found’, ‘straws no more’ and ‘Plastic free is better for you and 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 the calendar’s launch on Monday, Deputy Mayor Rob Pollock encouraged the young artists to be the change they wanted to see.

“It’s not just what you see on the beach, litter on our streets makes its way into the marine environment via our stormwater drains. So if you see litter, you can help by picking it up.

“You can use your voices to encourage others to make better environmental choices and set a good example for others to follow by saying no to single use items and items with excess packaging.

“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 our marine environments and that there are better choices when it comes to consumer items.”

This year the calendar has a bit of a new look as it is printed on 100 per cent recycled paper. It was previously printed on paper with 60 per cent recycled content. The move is in line with Eurobodalla Council’s new Sustainable Purchasing Code of Practice, part of Council’s commitment to work toward reducing its environmental footprint.

The free calendars are available this week at all shire libraries, in the foyer of Council’s Customer Service Centre in Moruya, the Batemans Bay depot, Narooma and Batemans Bay visitor centres and the Mogo Book Store.

The calendar’s artists are: Maddie Johnston and Luke Amos of Moruya Public School, Chelsea Wood and Harrison Katuke of St Mary’s Primary School, Stella Andrews and Amy white of Broulee Public School, Marlie Elliott of Mogo Public School, Ella Norman of Bodalla Public School, Scarlet Leone of St Peter’s Anglican College, Alexis Leth of St Bernard’s Primary School, Shaniquah Thomas-Tighe and Tom Newbold of Narooma Public School, Millie Duncombe of Batemans Bay Public School, Anwen Cowie of Central Tilba Public School and Rebeka Frialova of Sunshine Bay Public School.