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Youth Council tells of life 'at the end of the drain'
Members of South Australia's River Murray Youth Council are gaining some valuable insights into the environmental issues facing their region and are keen to share their experiences of living at the tail end of Australia's most iconic river.
Capacity Building Regional Coordinator, Sarah Lance, said the Council plays a vital role in bringing together high school students and environmental managers.
"By sharing their knowledge with the kids, they are inspiring and motivating the students to play an active role in protecting their local environment," she said.
Funding
The Council has encouraged youth involvement in environmental issues over the last four years with the assistance of $49,000 from the Australian and State Governments and $30,000 from the River Murray Levy.
Activities
The Council in 2006 is made up of 26 students in years eight to 12 from nine schools in the lower end of the SA Murray Darling Basin.
After seeing a range of presentations at the beginning of 2006 on the key issues facing the river, the young members of the Council decided to travel out to the headwaters of the River Murray and experience it firsthand.
In October the students travelled to Khancoban to look at the health of the river and some of the activities underway to protect it.
During the six-day journey the Council visited industries operating in the region such as fruit, dairy and wine; met with other school students and exchanged stories; and were introduced to natural resource management stakeholders across three states.
Sarah said the Council planned to make a presentation following their travels to the members of the South Australian Murray Darling Basin Natural Resource Management Board, the State Minister for the River Murray, peers involved in the Adelaide Youth Council and other relevant stakeholders.
Achievements
The River Murray Council has an impressive history of educating other students about the environmental issues facing the river. In 2005 it presented at the International Riverhealth Conference. It also hosted the Adelaide Riverhealth Conference, which featured an interactive excursion to Murray Bridge where other kids were shown how to build bird boxes and undertake Waterwatch sampling.
"I've watched members of the Council become empowered by their experiences to motivate others to protect the environment. Some of the members may go on to further environmental study and then to work in the field which is great. I'm sure one day one of them will be after my job!" Sarah said.
More information
- Sarah Lance, SA MDB NRM Board: (08) 8532 5110 or slance@lm.net.au
- SA MDB NRM Board
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