Award winners visit wildlife

THE winners of this year’s Central Highlands Water education competition were celebrated at the Ballarat Wildlife Park last week.

Goodstart Early Learning Mount Helen won the competition at the annual Begonia Festival where entrants painted native animals interacting with water.

“The children really enjoyed participating in the Central Highlands Water art competition and were thrilled to have been chosen as a winner,” said Callan Slater form Goodstart Early Learning.

“They can learn from such a young age the importance of water to the environment and understand that we all have a part to play in looking after it.

“The children will not forget this great experience and the important messages about water and our environment.”

There were 24 entries from early learning centres, kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools and community groups from across the region which were displayed in an open-air art gallery at the festival.

Goodstart Early Learning Mount Helen’s painting of a cassowary won the people’s choice and early learning or kindergarten categories.

Children from the centre were presented with their prizes at the Ballarat Wildlife Park where they took part in an educational session and met two cassowaries.

“We were excited to support the Central Highlands Water education competition this year and very impressed by all the entries,” said Ballarat Wildlife Park marketing manager, Darren Collinson.

“This is a great way to encourage everyone to think about the importance of water in the environment and how all life depends upon this precious resource.

“We all need to do our part to protect not only native wildlife, but also the environment they live in.”