In October 2019, local Mossman State High School student, Caitlin O’Neil, gave a presentation at a ‘Douglas Wonders’ Think-Tank meeting sharing her passion for the environment and seeking support to increase interest and awareness of environmental issues among school-aged students in the Douglas Shire.
Following the meeting, a Working Group was formed to assist Caitlin in her endeavours to increase youth involvement in taking positive actions to conserve and protect our unique environment where two World Heritage-listed National Parks intersect – the Daintree National Park and the Great Barrier Reef.
The outcome of this initial support was the production of a small children’s book with a strong environmental message. This was made possible by the successful application for a Douglas Shire Council ‘Micro-Grant’ sponsored by the ‘Great Barrier Reef Legacy’.
The story titled ‘Everything Flows to the Sea’, was written by Caitlin O’Neil and illustrated by fellow student, Alyssa Jackson. Together, the two Year 9 students have created an engaging and beautiful little book that traces the journey of a plastic straw to the ocean.
A free copy of the book will be given to every currently-enrolled Primary school-aged student from Prep to Year 4 in the Douglas Shire. In addition, all Kindergarten and Childcare Centre children who will be attending school in 2021 will be receiving a copy plus the Douglas Shire Libraries and the High School Library.
Caitlin and Alyssa are to be congratulated for the valuable contribution they have made in support of the Douglas Shire’s aim of ‘Keep Paradise Plastic-Free’ and raising awareness of how everyone can make a difference to protect our land and sea animals and the environments in which they live – OUR environment.
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