16 April 2007
YARRA YOUTH CONFERENCE SCHOOLS ANNOUNCED
Over 350 students and teachers from 38 primary and secondary schools have secured a place at the Melbourne Water Yarra River Youth Conference for World Environment Day in June.
Arron Wood from conference organiser Firestarter said demand for places at the conference was strong.
“The conference sold out in just two days, and an extra 50 places were added to meet demand,” Mr Wood said.
Melbourne Water Managing Director Rob Skinner said he was delighted with the interest in the conference.
“The response from the schools was fantastic and it is a good indication of the interest in Melbourne’s waterways and the Yarra River’” Mr Skinner said.
“It demonstrates just how much the students value Melbourne’s waterways and the Yarra River,” Mr Skinner said.
The next step will be for each school to team up with a mentor and select a river health project to investigate, before presenting their findings to their peers at the MCG and Federation Square on 4-5 June.
Mr Skinner said the students would be encouraged to discuss the value, history and health of the Yarra River and brainstorm ways to protect and improve the iconic river.
The following schools have been selected to participate in the conference:
Upper Yarra Catchment:
- Upper Yarra Secondary College
- Healesville High School
- Mooroolbark College
- Lilydale High School
- Lilydale Heights College
- Pembroke Secondary College
- Croydon Secondary College
- Mater Christi College
- Badger Creek Primary School
- Chum Creek Primary School
- Toolangi Primary School
Middle Yarra Catchment:
- Boronia Heights College
- Bayswater Secondary College
- Aquinas College
- Brandon Park Primary School
- Bayswater Primary School
- Bayswater West Primary School
- Boronia West Primary School
- Montmorency South Primary School
- The Basin Primary School
- Boronia Primary School
- Bayswater North Primary School
- Boronia Heights Primary School
Lower Yarra Catchment:
- Collingwood College
- University High School
- Melbourne Girl’s Grammar
- North Melbourne Primary School
- Stonnington Primary School
- Toorak Primary School
- Northcote High School
Other areas around Melbourne:
- St Albans Secondary College
- St Monica’s College
- Beaconsfield Upper Primary School
- Bentleigh West Primary School
- Meadowbank Primary School
- Movelle Primary School
- Williamstown High School Williamstown Primary School
Further information about the conference is available at the conference website at www.onelifeoneworldourfuture.com or by calling Cathy Oke on 9329 3736.
Melbourne Water is the primary supporter of the conference, also supported by the Department of Education, Melbourne Waterwatch, Sustainability Victoria, EPA, Waterwatch, City of Melbourne, Nillumbik Shire Council, Yarra Riverkeepers, Melbourne Girls College, City of Yarra, City of Stonnington, Boroondara Shire Council, Shire of Yarra Ranges, Epicure Catering, the MCG and Federation Square.