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March of the animals at environment festival
The old refrain is “never work with children or animals” but more than 30 University of the Sunshine Coast students will take on the challenge with gusto this Sunday.
The students are part of a big volunteer contingent behind the 30th annual Sunshine Coast World Environment Day Festival, to be held on 6 June at USC’s Sippy Downs campus from 9am to 4pm.
USC Human Services/Health Promotions student Jennifer Shortis and Environmental Science student Tammy Uecker have organised an extensive children’s program to ensure a full day of fun, family-friendly activities.
Both flora and fauna will be in the spotlight, with the animal elements ranging from living, breathing wildlife to costume-making for kids.
A highlight will be the March of the Animals from noon. Children dressed in newly-made animal or plant outfits and playing recycled instruments will follow Kin Kin pied piper Linsey Pollak on a “biodiversity parade”.
Ms Shortis said interactive displays and workshops would include marine life from Ocean Life and UnderWater World, “Bug World” from the Queensland Museum and the Geckoes Wildlife Presentations.
The Gatton mother who moved to Buderim to study at USC is delighted to be involved in the festival because it links families, University students and the environment.
“My degree focuses on building healthier and stronger communities and I saw this as an opportunity to foster a sense of community on campus,” she said.
Ms Shortis said the festival encouraged an optimistic outlook and was based on the Children’s Earth Charter of “one human family – one earth community”.
USC Social Work students will present a “Web of Life” showing how different life forms link to each other.
There will be kite-flying, bicycle fun, face painting, low carbon games, school sustainability initiatives, painting boomerangs and Indigenous storytelling circle performances.
Up to 7,000 people are expected at the event, presented by the Sunshine Coast Environment Council, SEQ Catchments, Sunshine Coast Regional Council and USC.
It adopts the 2010 United Nations theme of “Many species, one planet, one future”.
Ms Uecker, who plans to become an environmental manager/consultant, said she appreciated the importance USC placed on its own native flora and fauna, as well as the wider community focus of the festival.
“Some people are still unaware of the damage they are doing to the Earth or what they can do to protect it,” she said.
“This event shows how we can help at the individual, group, community, business and government levels. Plus it’s a lot of fun.”
Susie Chapman from festival partner SEQ Catchments praised the student organisers.
“They have been terrific in pulling in some great activities and acts as well as generating USC enthusiasm, awareness and volunteers for the day,” she said.
– Julie Gatehouse