School Students FOCUS on Environment in Record Numbers
School Students FOCUS on Environment in Record Numbers
PERTH, Western Australia, 24 November 2005 – Chevron Australia’s 2005 FOCUS Environment photographic competition has attracted a record 546 entries giving a unique insight into what the environment means for today’s Western Australian school students.
The competition’s winning entries will be recognised at an award ceremony to be held in the QV1 Building, Hay Street from 5.30pm on Thursday 24 November.
“The breadth and quality of entries demonstrates the strong passion that students have for the environment. It resonates with Chevron Australia’s efforts to protect people and the environment as a core business value,” said managing director of Chevron Australia, Jay Johnson. “It also emphasises that the competition is being more widely used as an educational tool by teachers,” said Mr Johnson.
A sponsored initiative of Chevron Australia and supported by the WA Department of Education, FOCUS Environment has been designed as an aid teachers can use to encourage student or class participation. The 2005 competition has seen a 60 per cent increase in entries compared to last year with more than 40 schools participating.
The evocative nature of fire and skyscapes, dramatic landscapes carved by rivers and oceans, solitary termite mounds and striking shots of indigenous animal and plant life are among the images captured in this year’s competition to illustrate the environmental values cherished by young Western Australians.
“The standard of entries is very high and the creativity demonstrated by the entrants is excellent,” said Dr Judy Edwards, WA’s Minister for the Environment, Science, who will present the awards to the winning entrants and their schools.
The 2005 competition was open to Western Australian primary and secondary school students in years 4 to 12. Photographic entries with an explanatory caption were invited in the categories of Nature’s Moods, Plant and Animal Habitats and People and the Environment. With a total prize pool of $20,000, the best entries attract up to $200 for the photographer and up to $1500 for the photographer’s school. For first prize winners attending the awards ceremony from outside the metropolitan area, assistance is provided with travel and accommodation.
For example, 14 year old Kamus Gordon, who won his age group’s award in the Nature’s Moods category for the second year running, will travel with his father from the Yiyili Aborginal Community located 170 kilometres south east of Fitzroy Crossing to attend the awards night. Kamus’ wet season skyscape has won $1500 for the Yiyili School which has 80 students.
Senior secondary school student Georgia Teather will travel with her mother from Esperance to accept the first place award for her image dominated by the withering impact of drought. Georgia’s image has won the Esperance Senior High School $1,500.
Chevron Australia's local business interests include a one-sixth holding in the North West Shelf Venture, oil production operations on Barrow and Thevenard Islands in Western Australia, 50% interest and operatorship of the Gorgon Project and significant hydrocarbon exploration.