By Michael Newhouse
A YOUNG Brimbank student’s artwork will be hung inside thousands of bedrooms, offices and kitchens throughout Victoria next year, after Lilian Chau’s work was chosen to feature in the EPA’s 2007 litter calendar.
Grade 2 St Bernadette’s Primary School student Lilian’s artwork was one of 14 pieces chosen, from more than 7700 entries, to feature in the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2007 “Litter – You’re gonna get stung!” calendar, which aims to promote a cleaner state and reduce littering.
Almost 400 students from the Sunshine North primary school entered the competition, with seven short-listed as finalists.
But it was Lilian, with her depiction illustrated a barren, dry Australian landscape, littered with jam jars, beer cans and discarded bottles of oil, that the judges picked to feature in next year’s calendar.
Eight-year-old Lilian, who lives in Sunshine North, said she was thrilled, and a little overwhelmed, to have the chance to display her work in front of so many Victorians.
Teacher Jane Gilmartin, who taught Lilian last year, said the award was a wonderful achievement for her former student, adding that it was also good for the school to be recognised for teaching its children environmental sustainability and conservation practices.
“We’re very big on environmental factors,” Ms Gilmartin said.
EPA Victoria chairman Mick Bourke reinforced the important role schools played in teaching the young about conservation, saying the entries showed students had high level of awareness and knowledge of the environmental issues facing Victoria.
“We are absolutely thrilled with the standard of the entries for this year’s competition,” Mr Bourke said.
All Victorian primary schools, along with students from year 7 and 8, were encouraged to enter the competition.
People can purchase copies of the 2007 EPA calendar from the EPA Information Centre on 9695 2722.
