By ALANA MITCHELSON
Oberon High School students have posed their ideas about how to best tackle water issues at an annual Melbourne Water Kids Teaching Kids Conference.
Students in years seven to 10 spent months giving up many of their lunchtimes to research local water and environmental issues.
They also participated in outdoor activities such as tree planting, water quality testing and sand dune restoration.
Their research then developed into a presentation of key problems and possible solutions, which they pitched to kids representing 52 schools across the state last week.
This year’s Melbourne Water conference encouraged students to consider the numerous ways that people rely on water as a precious resource in everyday life, whether for washing, agricultural purposes or manufacturing processes.
Amanda Rusiniak, Oberon’s environment team co-ordinator, said the two-day event had a double-pronged educational effect, giving students an opportunity to also learn from other schools’ presentations.
“The students were so dedicated and were preparing for the event every lunch time this term,” Ms Rusiniak said.
“I think it was quite special for them going into the city and to present their work in Etihad Stadium to about 100 people overall.
“It was really interesting to hear from an expert panel at the end as well, which touched on the key issues raised during the conference.”
Since 1999, more than 100,000 students have been involved in the Kids Teaching Kids program through state, national and international conferences.
Program manager Michelle Sanders said the aim was for its environmental messages to filter out to the wider community.
Ms Rusiniak said the Oberon High School students were so inspired that they left discussing what they hoped to present at next year’s event.
